ALAMANCE COUNTY, NC- In a county with over 150,000 people, 300 can be a small number. But, when it's 300 validated gang members, with over 5,000 associates, that number can seem daunting.
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office recently reported cartels, drug trafficking and gangs as a huge problem in the area. Turns out, there are 40 established gangs in the area; smaller sets of gangs who work under larger, organized umbrellas of know crime organizations such as Hells Angels, Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings.
"We have had situations where we had a Blood and a Crip, brothers but members of opposing street gangs, living in the same household," said Sergeant Paul Cobb.
Cobb worked for the sheriff's gang unit for 4 years before recently moving to the Criminal Divisions Unit. He said, unlike major cities or large suburban area, Alamance County gangs are hybrids that don't necessarily stay on one block of a town.
"They run the gamut in Alamance County. There is no specific location. A lot of times, we will see Bloods and Crips working together, against other gangs in order to make the most money. It's all about money for them. Where can they get the most money?"
The answer is, the drug and sex trades; although robberies and home invasions are on the rise in the county. Cobb said they are reports of 5 and 6 home invasions in one neighborhood at a time.
"They come in at night, ski masks and weapons, looking for drugs and money. It's all connected," explained Cobb. "They have their hands in homicides, drugs, and now we are seeing human trafficking. Prostitution has always been a big thing."
Some gangs have "stepped up" intimidation and debt-gathering practices, according to Cobb.
"They don't just come after you. They will kill your family and keep going up until a debt is paid."
The question is, why Alamance County? The FBI's National Gang Assessment reported gangs moving from suburban areas into rural locations.
"That's what Alamance County is," said Cobb. "Where there is little law enforcement. Your neighbor might be a little further away and there is no apartment building with 300 or 400 people in them."
Be proactive and attack the drug trade- that's what the sheriff's office said the answer to tackling the problem lies.
"We have our officers and deputies in the streets, working phones and connections. The drug trade, human trafficking trade, it's all connected."
Shut down the drug trade, take away a gang's way of life.
"It's a problem and it's going to continue to be a problem, but we will be proactive, work with the surrounding police department and tackle it every day. We face it every day."
Sheriff Terry Johnson and a team of deputies are attending an upcoming Sheriff Border Summit in McAllen, Texas to help learn about gangs, cartel and drug trafficking practices that could help them face the problem on a local level.
