MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Two people have been arrested after a drug bust in McDowell County where around $3.8 million in meth was seized from a vehicle, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement officials with the McDowell County Drug Enforcement said they began investigating Greggory Lowery, 36, of Nebo, earlier this year. Detectives said, over the course of several months, they had identified Lowery as a large supplier of meth in McDowell County.
Authorities with McDowell County Drug Enforcement said they conducted surveillance on U.S. 221 near the Rutherford and McDowell county line on Nov. 13. They were assisted by the Rutherford County Narcotics and Street Crimes Units.
Detectives said they saw Lowery driving a grey Honda Pilot, which was closely followed by a yellow Ford F-150 truck. The truck was driven by Timothy James Beaty, 47, of Nebo, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
Rutherford County detectives conducted a traffic stop on the truck for a traffic violation.
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Community Impact Team also attempted to stop Lowery’s vehicle for a traffic violation after he entered McDowell County. He tried to flee from law enforcement officials by going onto Polly Spout Road and then Vein Mountain Road, which led to a pursuit.
Lowery pulled over, poured an accelerant inside his vehicle, and set it on fire before continuing to flee from authorities on foot. After a foot chase, law enforcement officials arrested Lowery and the vehicle fire was put out.
Search warrants were executed on Lowery’s home, vehicle, and other properties in McDowell County. As a result, authorities said they recovered the following:
50 kilograms (110 pounds) of suspected methamphetamine from his vehicle.
1 pound of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 20 firearms from his residence.
An estimated street value of the methamphetamine confiscated from Lowery’s vehicle was $3.8 million.
Lowery has been charged with two counts of felony trafficking methamphetamine and was issued a secured bond of $2 million. Beaty has been charged with felony conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and was issued a secured bond of $500,000.
Marion Police Chief Allen Lawrence said this was the largest drug bust in the history of McDowell County.
Authorities said the case remains under active investigation with additional charges pending.
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the following agencies during the investigation:
Marion Police Department
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Henderson County Sheriff’s Office
North Carolina State Highway Patrol
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