A Columbus man is now facing federal drug charges after being stopped by the Mountaineer Highway Interdiction Team this week with a large quantity of crack cocaine.

John Allen III, 29, is charged in federal court in Wheeling with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

In a news release, the MHIT said Allen was stopped Tuesday morning on Interstate 70 at milepost 13 for speeding.

At that time, officers said they discovered Allen had approximately 6 ounces of crack cocaine in his possession after and alert by the MHIT K-9 unit.

Officials said the drugs have a street value in excess of $10,000.

If convicted, Allen faces five to 40 years in federal prison.

On Thursday, he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Seibert for an initial appearance, and a preliminary hearing will be held in the near future.

"This was the largest seizure of crack cocaine made by MHIT since its inception in 2010, and it goes to show how this elite crime-fighting unit continues to have a positive impact upon northern West Virginia," said Capt. James Merrill of the State Police.

"The cooperation among the agencies involved in MHIT is outstanding and allows us to make large seizures of illegal drugs as was done in this case," said Chief Shawn Schwertzfeger of the Wheeling Police Department.

MHIT is composed of the West Virginia State Police, the Ohio County Sheriff's Department, the Wheeling Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney's Office. In its news release, MHIT said its primary purpose is to enhance regional interdiction operations in order to slow the flow of illegal drugs into and through the State of West Virginia.

The major focus of MHIT, which began operating in the fall of 2010, is on highways and state routes but it also concentrates on airports, bus terminals, hotels, motels and parcel and package interdiction.