Enough fentanyl to kill nearly 3 million people was seized in two separate drug busts with connections to North Carolina this past month. He's being held on a $500,000 bond. ", Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. WebNASH COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A sheriffs office is detailing one of the largest drug seizures in its history. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. "The scourge of methamphetamine ruins the health of the user and destroys families. "After conferring with the NC SBI in Raleigh it is believed that this is the largest amount of methamphetamine ever seized in the Western District and is one of the largest seizures ever in North Carolina," North Wilkesboro Police Chief Joe Rankin said. The investigation continued, and on Friday, North Wilkesboro police conducted a traffic stop as part of the investigation. Fentanyl available in the United States is primarily supplied by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to the DEA. The 33-year-old was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Alien pod on Outer Banks tree looks and feels like hair, park says. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call Crimestoppers at (336) 727-2800. WebThe first and biggest bust occurred on Oct. 12 when Mario Alberto Castro Solache, 29, of Raleigh; Pedro Mondragon, 27, of Lillington; and Ignacio Rodriguez, 28, Bradenton, Democrat Gov. 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. It is a perfect example of local, state and federal resources working together to provide safe communities for our residents. ITS PART OF A STING IN WILKES COUNTY BEING CALLED. A news release said that one of the buys had two kilos of fentanyl concealed in a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal box, and the remaining three kilos were concealed in a yellow igloo cooler. WebThe 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 LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OFFICIAL ARRESTED DURING DRUG DEAL INVOLVING METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL: POLICE, Detectives seized 22 pounds of fentanyl worth more than $2.6 million. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. WebROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- A traffic stop early Thursday on I-95 southbound resulted in the largest methamphetamine seizure in Nash County history. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. On Saturday, Sept. 17, people from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand action from national leaders on the spike in fentanyl deaths. He was released from the Manatee County Jail on Oct. 15 after posting a $56,500 bond. Mondragon and Castro Solache were taken into custody on Oct. 12 and charged with conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl. Both men told detectives that they were being paid to collect money for the fentanyl drug dealer in Mexico. ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- A traffic stop early Thursday on I-95 southbound resulted in the largest methamphetamine seizure in Nash County history. WILKES COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Authorities seized more than 100 kilos of meth and arrested three people as part of a drug bust in Wilkes County. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. The Asheville Police Department Both were placed under a $500,000.00 bond and are in the Nash County Detention Center. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Williams is behind bars after his bond was set at $2 million on the combined charges, jail records show. Investigators said the drug is popular because it's cheap - costing roughly around $8. Copyright 2023 John Locke Foundation. The rising cases of fentanyl deaths have hit close to home to many across the country and North Carolina. Officers searched the vehicle and found marijuana in the passenger area and three large bundles of methamphetamine wrapped in plastic hidden inside the vehicle. Johnson is facing felony drug-trafficking charges. 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. Castro Solache is in the country illegally and has a Border Patrol hold in the Polk County Jail. 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.. Authorities said that amount of fentanyl equates to more than 625,000 lethal doses of the highly potent drug. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. He said four people overdosed just last week. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who refuse to be positive contributors to society and bring them to justice. After receiving information about Logans involvement in drug sales in Asheville, including tips from the Tip411 app, our officers were able to use that information to make the arrest, said Asheville Police Department Chief David Zack. Web50 grams of Fentanyl 7.9 pounds of marijuana 28.7 grams of MDMA 31.6 pounds of methamphetamine an assortment of Adderall, Oxycodone, and Suboxone $1,520.00 five 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Someone in NC won $2M in Saturdays Powerball drawing, Swing State with Mark Walker & Odell Cleveland, Medical marijuana sees better chance of passing in, These are the countries that have banned TikTok. A car was pulled over because of suspicious activities and several traffic violations, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS A COLLABORATION OF LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL. Will a warm February mean a brutal spring or summer? After the Nash County Sheriff's Office stopped the vehicle shortly after midnight, the Rocky Mount Police Department's canine unit assisted and K-9 officer "Remy" detected the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. A tip leads to one of Nash County's biggest heroin busts. 1. They are currently being held in the Stanly County Jail under a $1 million bond and are scheduled to be in court today. or redistributed. Three kilograms of marijuana, two firearms, various drug paraphernalia, including a kilo drug press and heat sealer, and $4,000 in cash were also seized, according to authorities. Thanks goes out to all who have helped and will continue to help our investigations.". 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. And there behind the house, was row after row of poppy plants. Stone said the drug is smuggled across the border and then trafficked into the community by local suppliers. Stone said the powdery substance is destroying families every day in his community. The release continued by saying Rodriguez warned the undercover detectives to be careful or they might overdose. On Thursday of last week, the Rowan Sheriffs Office, with help from the US Department of Homeland Security, arrested two people on charges that they were trafficking Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The total weight of the methamphetamine seized is over 220 pounds and has a street value of over $2 million.. TheDrug Enforcement Administrationhas been warning the public in recent months of rainbow fentanyl.. After receiving information about Logans involvement in drug sales in Asheville, including tips from the Tip411 app, our officers were able to use that information to make the arrest, said Asheville Police Department Chief David Zack. Read more about the program here. 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. WebDetectives in Forsyth County, North Carolina, have seized over $2.6 million of fentanyl enough of the deadly drug to kill 5 million people in the largest bust in the countys WebFederal authorities have broken up a massive drug trafficking ring that supplied cocaine and marijuana to college students across North Carolina, leading to nearly two dozens This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. Authorities arrested Billy Ray Johnson of Nashville during a traffic stop off I-95 in Halifax County after receiving a tip that he was trafficking heroin. Southeast Raleigh pastor celebrates 40 years of service, Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs, Railroad crossing work could create traffic delays in Wake Forest. WebNearly 13 pounds of a white powder seized in July in what officials considered one of North Carolinas largest fentanyl busts was nothing more than flour, according to one of the 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. "The total weight of the methamphetamine seized is over 220 pounds and has a street value of over $2 million. The seizure was part of an ongoing investigation that began in September 2021 when the Forsyth County Drug Task Force learned that 31-year-old Lakeith Rayvon Lindsay, of Winston-Salem, may be distributing narcotics throughout the county, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday. 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. The driver, Jason Evan Williams, was taken into custody at the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center, but information on other arrests was unavailable. Florida officials announced the arrests on Oct. 22. North Carolinas tax climate is the primary draw, along with the quality of our work force and higher education system. Kentucky pulled off its largest prescription drug bust ever in November 2009, issuing felony arrest warrants for 518 people and arresting 322 over the course of two days in 34 counties across the state. WebWILKES COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Authorities seized more than 100 kilos of meth and arrested three people as part of a drug bust in Wilkes County. In Nash County, the Hope Initiative formed in February. CLAYTON, North Carolina (WTVD) -- In the biggest drug operation in department history, Clayton Police put 19 people behind bars Wednesday after a series of early morning raids. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! A significant drug bust made last week in Rowan County highlights the preeminence of Interstate 85 as the meth highway, according to investigators. 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. 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. 2, 2022 at 2:25 PM PDT. WebThe Lincoln, North Carolina, Sheriffs Office called it the largest drug bust ever in the county, after more than 100 pounds of cocaine was seized Wednesday. The trend appears to be a new method drug cartels use to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people. One variable in the equation will keep the economic progress engine moving forward or stop it in its tracks: affordable, reliable energy. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Bill would get rid of the Democratic Party in Fla. Masked Proud Boys spark petition to NC sheriff, Robinson: NC is destination state for death, US warns China not to supply weapons to Russia, Thomas Martens, Molly Corbett trial moved to Forsyth, Some fear Nazi banners, power grid attack connected, Video about NC substation attack shared in Md plot, FBI offering $25k for info for NC substation attacks, NC bill would make substation attacks felony, Arrest warrants issued for projected NFL draft pick, Panthers to meet with QB Derek Carr: Sources, Whats coming to NC in Mar.? I am ecstatic that we were able to seize this large amount of methamphetamine and prevent it from reaching our streets. David Larson contributed to this article. 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