$1.41 Million Drugs Confiscated During Yearlong Investigation
2 Tons Of Marijuana Found In Semi Packaged In Cookie Boxes
1 kilo heroin, 2 kilos cocaine, 1.5 kilos fentanyl seized
5 Arrests Made
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday details of a yearlong undercover investigation with local, state and federal authorities involving massive amounts of drugs being transported to Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Johnston County sheriff’s narcotics agents worked with the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, NC State Bureau of Investigation and federal DEA agents.
During the joint operation, a tractor trailer was stopped on October 30, 2017 and 4,000 pounds of marijuana was seized. The marijuana had been professionally packaged in retail Hispanic cookie boxes.
During an incident on February 6, 2018, one kilo of heroin and 1.5 kilos of fentanyl was intercepted while on its way from New York to Asheboro, NC.
And on March 3, 2018, 2 kilos of cocaine was intercepted in Kannapolis, NC.
Combined the three drug shipments had a potential street value of $1,410,000.
Five people are facing charges. They include: Conception Vazquez Uribe, Aurellio Ramirez, Effrain Torres-Estrada, Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Ramos, and Jose Luis Holguin Saavedra.
Urbie, Ramirez and Estrada were arrested in Johnston County. Rodriguez-Ramos was arrested in Randolph County. Saavedra was taken into custody in Rowan County.
Agents said the 5 arrests puts a major dent into illegal narcotics making their way into North Carolina.
Because of the on-going investigation, information on the 3 major drug busts and the 5 arrests were withheld until today (Wednesday).
