Authorities are still actively searching for Jorge Gomez, 30, in connection with the investigation. Read more about the program here. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The 48-year-old Goldsboro resident was charged with felony trafficking in cocaine by possession, by transport and maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for a controlled substance, according to the news release. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who refuse to be positive contributors to society and bring them to justice. 2, 2022 at 2:25 PM PDT. The 33-year-old was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. Cody Xiong, 37, was arrested at the farm Tuesday and charged with two felonies manufacturing a Schedule II drug and trafficking in opium, police said. This is a significant drug arrest which removes a large amount of this deadly drug from our streets, much in thanks to the support we receive from the community sharing your tips.. The plants, which are used to make opium, morphine and heroin, were found on an acre of land near the town of Claremont, some 40 miles north of Charlotte. The fentanyl crisis is at anall-time high, with the southern border crisis intensifying since the Biden Administration took office in 2021. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Gray News) - Police in North Carolina said a tip helped lead them to their biggest drug bust in Buncombe Countys history. Lucia Carbajal Avila, 31, has been charged with two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine, Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Residence for Selling Methamphetamine, Possession with intent to Sell and Deliver Methamphetamine and Misdemeanor Child Abuse. Published: Apr. They also found Suboxone strips and multiple items of drug paraphernalia. "All total investigators removed and seized over 2,000 pounds of opium poppy plants found growing on the property along with multiple firearms and ammunition," the Catawba County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to NBC News. Operation Hot Dirt began in September when detectives were tipped off to drug traffickers plans to smuggle fentanyl from Mexico to Bradenton, Florida, and then into Polk County. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. The prevention of illegal drug activity in North Wilkesboro is, and will continue to be, one of our highest priorities. Copyright 2023 John Locke Foundation. By Jordan Gartner. Officers say that they seized the following at the Nicholson Road residence: Police say the street value of the drugs seized during the course of this investigation is around $3.6 million. Officials say it had the potential to kill 250,000 people. WebInvestigators called the case Prison Empire and said they have seized 44 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 pounds of heroin and 3 pounds of cocaine, as well as 82 firearms. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, there have been more than 250 heroin deaths statewide. Thanks goes out to all who have helped and will continue to help our investigations. Police said in June, Juan Sebastian, 55, of North Wilkesboro, was arrested with 2 kilograms of meth. The detectives first two undercover buys were made with Rodriguez, who was identified as the local dealer. These arrests are the result of many hours of investigative work between all of the above listed agencies and would not have been possible without cooperation between every agency. Catawba County Sheriff''s Office narcotic officer pulls a poppy plant from a field in Claremont, Catawba County, North Carolina. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Gray News) - Police in North Carolina said a tip helped lead them to their biggest drug bust in Buncombe Countys history. It is a perfect example of local, state and federal resources working together to provide safe communities for our residents. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. The car was occupied by a man and woman traveling from New York to Rocky Mount. Drug poisonings are the leading killer of Americans between 18 and 45. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, WebA North Carolina sheriffs deputy investigating a complaint stumbled across an opium poppy field worth an estimated $500 million, officials said. He's being held on a $500,000 bond. WebCourt documents allege that Ochoa supplied approximately 200 pounds of marijuana and 2 kilograms of cocaine a week to a cooperating defendant in Orange County, North Police said 100 kilograms of meth were seized from the vehicle and an additional 6 kilograms and several weapons were seized as part of a search warrant at a residence in Wilkes County. 1. WebROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- A traffic stop early Thursday on I-95 southbound resulted in the largest methamphetamine seizure in Nash County history. Detectives seized 22 pounds of fentanyl worth more than $2.6 million. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The agencies part of the joint investigation included North Wilkesboro PD, Wilkesboro PD, Boone PD, Mooresville PD, Jonesville PD, Alexander County Sheriffs Office, Ashe County Sheriffs Office, Surry County Sheriffs Office, Watauga County Sheriffs Office, Wilkes County Sheriffs Office, Yadkin County Sheriffs Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. These are large scale drug traffickers who we believe are responsible for the distribution of hundreds of kilos of methamphetamine in our communities over the last year. According to a news release, Castro Solache and Mondrago went to Polk County on Oct. 11 and met with undercover detectives to talk about a multi-kilogram sale of fentanyl. The event was organized by a group called Lost Voices of Fentanyl, and among those gathered were about 20 members of the Forgotten Victims of North Carolina, a state-based grassroots group of mostly mothers whose children were lost to fentanyl poisoning. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. Enough fentanyl to kill nearly 3 million people was seized in two separate drug busts with connections to North Carolina this past month. The daughter overdoses. The vehicle was searched and 117 pounds of cocaine were discovered, according to the news release. Undoubtedly this will save many lives and countless families from heartbreak. Man with long criminal record served with financial crime charges in Rowan Co. TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office announced the largest methamphetamine seizure in the county's history Friday. Her son actually overdosed and died in January. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. bond was set at $2 million on the combined charges, Support my work with a digital subscription, EPA reviewing much-criticized water pollution rules for industrial-sized CAFO farms, Chatham County housing authority director arrested, accused of $200,000+ in wire fraud, Alligator living at Walmart in NC stirs debate, as many demand it be allowed to stay, 2 popular chain restaurants get B grades: Triangle sanitation scores (Feb. 28). Luis Angel Ventura Castro, 21, and Omar Garcia Luna, 20, were arrested after authorities found 517 grams of uncut fentanyl inside their vehicle with a street value of $258,000. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. or redistributed. WebNEWTON The Catawba County Sheriffs Office Drug Task Force completed a six-month long investigation, arresting 60 people Wednesday in a county-wide drug bust. Constitutional carry bill aims to eliminate handgun permits, Medic: 1 dead, 1 seriously injured in crash on I-485 in west Charlotte. The investigation continued and on Friday, August 8, North Wilkesboro Police Department conducted a traffic stop as part of the investigation. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. The police department said one kilogram of fentanyl potentially could kill 500,000 people, according to the DEA, and Thursdays drug bust produced 1.25 kilograms of the suspected drug. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Here are the five biggest marijuana busts of all time. The program allows people to go to Nashville police to turn in drugs or ask for help to get clean -- without any penalty. We are continuing our efforts to combat the drug epidemic by prosecuting those who are involved in selling these dangerous substances, and the partnership with these other agencies are critical for these operations. Investigators said the $2 million meth trafficking investigation initiated by the North Wilkesboro Police Department started in June, and involved the Wilkesboro Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It is a perfect example of local, state and federal resources working together to provide safe communities for our residents. All Rights Reserved. "The scourge of methamphetamine ruins the health of the user and destroys families. Both men told detectives that they were being paid to collect money for the fentanyl drug dealer in Mexico. 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Twenty-one people have been charged in an alleged drug ring that involved multiple fraternities and students at major North Carolina universities, the Department of Justice announced Thursday. Two separate drug busts netting enough fentanyl to kill nearly 3 million highlights the worsening southern border crisis. In June 2020, a joint Man with long criminal record served with financial crime charges in Rowan Co. Crime Stoppers: Police working to identify people who burglarized Selwyn Pub, How gas prices have changed in Charlotte in the last week, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Patricia Drewes, who is part of Lost Voices of Fentanyl and the organizer of Forgotten Victims of North Carolina,told Carolina Journal on Sept. 19that about 700 marched from the National Mall to the White House. Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital. The Asheville Police Department reported it arrested Jonathan Maurice Logan, Jr., 33, on Thursday and seized 2.76 pounds of His officers took down the supplier through its Tar River Regional Taskforce, a group of law enforcement agencies throughout eastern North Carolina. North Wilkesboro police seize $2 million in meth during joint investigation, NEW AT FOUR TWO MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF METH NOW OFF THE STREETS. The investigation continued, and on Friday, North Wilkesboro police conducted a traffic stop as part of the investigation. "When he knocked on the door, the guys said, 'I guess youre here about the opium.'". WebNASH COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A sheriffs office is detailing one of the largest drug seizures in its history. "If you sell heroin, you are committing murder and we will do everything we can to catch you," Stone said. Jim Bostian, Aetnas market president for North Carolina, addressed the State Health Plan. Police said 100 kilograms of meth were seized from the vehicle and an additional 6 kilograms and several weapons were seized as part of a search warrant at a residence in Wilkes County.Sebastian is charged with two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, two counts of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, two counts of maintaining a residence/vehicle for selling methamphetamine, and possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine.Lucia Avila, 31, of North Wilkesboro, is charged with two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, maintaining a residence for selling methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine and misdemeanor child abuse.Adrianna Gomez, 32, of Mount Airy, is charged with two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle for selling methamphetamine, and possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine.Authorities are still actively searching for Jorge Gomez, 30, in connection with the investigation.Gomez is a federal fugitive and we are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Surry County Sheriff's Office, North Wilkesboro Police Department, the NC State Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Homeland Security. 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