ALAMANCE COUNTY, NC -- The Alamance Sheriff's Office says multiple people were arrested following a months long drug investigation. Thursday morning about 5:30 a.m., officers from local and state law enforcement agencies started executing arrest warrants related to the investigation.
Sheriff Terry Johnson with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments held a news conference about the operation Thursday afternoon.
"I want the drug dealers to know, you're not going to be safe in Alamance County if we can catch you," said Johnson. "My personal opinion, if we can't catch you, let's put enough heat on you where you'll move that business somewhere else."
The Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team led the investigation. The sheriff's office says the focus of the operation was the trafficking and sale of heroin and opioids.
"Is every bad guy off the street? Absolutely not. More drug dealers tomorrow? You bet, they're going to be out there. Unfortunately, we have that level of job security," said Jeffery Smythe, Chief of Police in the City of Burlington. "But we're going to keep hanging in there and keep working it."
The office also says Alamance County as well as communities across the state have seen an increase of drug overdoses and deaths related to both heroin and opioids, and Thursday morning's operation focused on alleged street and mid-level dealers.
“Every county in every state of America has a drug problem. We’re no different. We’re no better and no worse," said Smythe. "We’ve got the same kind of drugs, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, script drugs, they’re the same everywhere. Do we solve it completely? Absolutely not. But tomorrow morning, somebody is going to pick up the phone and call us because they have an enhanced level of confidence in their local police department.”
The office says more than 100 felony warrants were issued. These include warrants with charges relating to not only possession and sale of drugs but trafficking charges as well. Sheriff Johnson says the arrests will make the community safer by saving lives.
"It may not change permanently, but at least they know we're coming after them," said Johnson. "In itself, that will help stop some from dealing for a while. If we stop it for a week or two weeks, then we've possible saved a child's life. We’re seeing a phase here in the last 2-3 years that we’ve never seen before. So, all of us agencies got together and we decided it’s time to go after these people wide open and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Additional charges are being filed. Several unrelated outstanding warrants are also being served.
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