Two students involved in the biggest drug bust at the University of Massachusetts in 30 years pleaded not guilty to multiple charges last month in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton in separate arraignments.

Steven Y. Nguyen, 19, and Yuta Nakamura, 22, were arrested Nov. 14 following a police search of their dorm room at 707 Kennedy Hall. University of Massachusetts Police reported finding 1.5 pounds of marijuana, individually wrapped bags of marijuana, other drug related paraphernalia and $24,000 in cash.

The $24,000 represents the largest cash seizure in 30 years at the University, according to UMPD spokesman Jim Lyons.

UMPD Patrol and Detective Units came across the drugs and cash in an unrelated search of the room. They had obtained a search warrant to search the room for a laptop computer stolen in Coolidge Hall last April. According to UMPD, the laptop was also found in the room,

According to Officer Gregory Oravec, the head of the laptop investigation, both students were sleeping when police arrived and the drugs and paraphernalia were mostly out in the open.

“The room was a mess,” he said.

Nguyen, of Southborough, Mass., was charged with receiving stolen property valued at more than $250, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana) and possession of a Class D substance. His roommate, Nakamura, was charged with possession of a Class D substance.

– Dan Lamothe