Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood says a six month investigation into illegal drug sales has resulted in 228 felony charges against 62 suspects.
“We decided back in January that it was time to initiate an operation and see where it took us,” says Blackwood. “The investigation and operation led us into the city limits of just about every city within the county.”
Undercover officers and confidential sources staged drug sales in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and throughout Orange County.
The investigation netted more than 7,000 grams of cocaine, 693 doses of heroin, 110 pounds of marijuana and multiple prescription drugs as well as several firearms.
Investigators took out warrants Thursday morning for 62 suspects on a total of 343 charges ranging from drug trafficking to selling narcotics near a school.
Blackwood says several suspects are already in custody, and he expects more arrests will follow.
“One or two actually walked in and turned themselves in when they got phone calls and heard what was going on with their friends,” says Blackwood. “We’ve still got a number to go; we’ll continue to work on it throughout the day and we’ll get the rest when we come across them.”
Police have yet to identify those arrested, stating in a press release that more detailed information will be released shortly. You can read the full press release here:
Beginning in January 2015, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office initiated an operation directed at the distribution of illegal drugs in Orange County. Undercover Officers and Confidential sources purchased illegal substances from violators during this operation. Officers from other State, Local and Federal agencies assisted in this operation.
This operation led Officers into the city limits of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and throughout other communities of Orange County. During the operation purchases of illegal substances “crack” cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, heroin and prescription drugs were made. Narcotics Investigators identified more than 60 individuals involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics throughout Orange County. Multiple firearms were also seized that were being used during these transactions.
On June 25, 2015, Investigators obtained warrants for the subjects identified in this operation. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office with other State, Local and Federal agencies began to arrest individuals on the warrants obtained from this operation. A number of defendants have been arrested at this time. Efforts are continuing to locate and arrest others involved in this operation. More detailed information about the defendants will be available at the completion of this operation.
LIST OF CHARGES FOR OPERATION
Sell/Deliver Cocaine – 46
PWISD Cocaine – 46
Trafficking Cocaine-3
Trafficking Oxycocdone-1
Trafficking Marijuana-1
Sell/Deliver Marijuana – 16
PWISD Marijuana – 16
PWISD Heroin-5
Sell/Deliver Heroin-4
PWISD HEROIN-4
Trafficking Heroin-3
Sell Narcotics Within 1000 feet Of School – 7
PWISD Schedule II (Percocet & Oxycodone) – 5
Sell/Deliver Schedule II (Percocet & Oxycodone) – 5
Possess Schedule IV (XANAX) – 1
Possess Drug Paraphernalia – 46
CHARGE TOTALS
Targets(Suspects) – 62
Total Felony Charges – 228
Total Misdemeanor Charges – 115
Total Charges – 343
NARCOTICS SEIZED
Cocaine- 7,172.23 GRAMS
Marijuana- 110.82 pounds
Oxycodone- 23 Dosage Units
Heroin- 693 dosage units
Xanax- 1 Dosage Unit
Vicodin- 6 Dosage Units
Gambling Tickets- 100 Tickets
Klonopin- 25 Dosage Units
Methadone- 1 Dosage Unit
Oxymorphone- 3 Dosage Unit
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