SURGOINSVILLE RAID SHOWS CRACK COCAINE MAY BE REPLACING METH ON LOCAL
DRUG SCENE

SURGOINSVILLE - Meth lab seizures in Hawkins County last year were
cut to one third the level of the previous several years as scores of
traffickers and manufacturers have gone to prison and state laws make
it harder to obtain meth ingredients.

But, as is usually the case in the world of illegal drugs, when one
product is taken off the market, another steps up to take its place.
The next big drug problem to be faced by area law enforcement may be
cocaine, which has been popping up in arrests in greater quantities
in recent weeks.

This past Thursday evening the Hawkins County Sheriff's Department
seized seven ounces of powder cocaine, almost exactly $20,000 worth,
from a suspected crack house at 220 Bray Road in Surgoinsville. Seven
people in the residence including accused ringleader [Name redacted],
of that address, were allegedly in the process of transforming the
powder cocaine into crack cocaine.

Deputies also allegedly seized eight grams of the completed crack
cocaine, two ounces of marijuana, 14 hydrocodone pills, five Valiums
and $3,300 in cash. The sheriff's department also seized a 1994 Royal
Fifth Wheel camper.

"We had been gathering intelligence on the trafficking of drugs at
this house on Bray Road," Sheriff Roger Christian said. "We obtained
a search warrant on Thursday evening, and upon entry the deputies
discovered that they were in the process of cooking their crack
cocaine. It was a pretty good amount.

"A quantity of cocaine like that can do a lot of damage on the
streets, and the investigators who worked on this case did a great
job of seizing these drugs before they made into the public."

[Name redacted] was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine,
maintaining a dwelling where drugs are sold, possession of Schedule
II narcotics, possession of Schedule III narcotics, possession of
Schedule IV narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia. His
alleged accomplices were charged with a variety of different charges,
the most serious of which is conspiracy to distribute Schedule II narcotics.

Historically people found guilty of that charge in Hawkins County
have received an eight-year prison sentence.

Those six other people arrested with [Name redacted] Thursday evening
include [Names redacted].

Christian said Sunday he's heard indications that cocaine is making a
comeback in the region.

"I was at a Sheriff's Association meeting last week and there was
some talk that the decrease in availability of methamphetamine has
created a bigger market for cocaine, and that's going to be the next
major problem," Christian said. "It remains to be seen if that does
play out or not. I can say that if someone traffics in drugs in
Hawkins County, eventually we're going to get them and send them to prison."

During Thursday's raid at 220 Bray Street, numerous people arrived at
the suspected crack house while officers were still there. Among
those who stopped at the alleged crack house, seven were arrested including:

[Name redacted], Surgoinsville, for DUI, open container, possession
of drug paraphernalia and violation of the implied consent law.

[Name redacted], Surgoinsville, for DUI, open container and violation
of the implied consent law.

[Name redacted], Surgoinsville, for possession of Schedule II
narcotics and possession of Schedule III narcotics.

[Name redacted], Thorn Hill, for public intoxication.

[Name redacted], Mooresburg, for possession of marijuana.

[Name redacted], Surgoinsville, for driving on a revoked license.

[Name redacted], Surgoinsville, for possession of Schedule II
narcotics and possession of Schedule III narcotics.