HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN DRUGS SEIZED IN 2008

Local sheriff's authorities have seized more than half a million
dollars worth of marijuana and cocaine in 200 drug investigations and
two undercover campaigns this year, as well as made a whopping 53
methamphetamine-related responses netting nine labs and numerous meth
dump sites.

There have been 226 cases opened by the Sampson County Sheriff's
Special Investigative Division in 2008, and nearly 160 of them - about
70 percent - have been closed by arrests, according to a 2008 activity
report compiled by the division's commander and provided to The
Independent.

According to the report, there have been 120 arrests made in cases
relating to marijuana (52), cocaine (37), methamphetamine (30) and
heroin (1). Other arrests have come as a result of various traffic
violations, possession and distribution of prescription drugs and
other crimes.

In all, there has been approximately $268,000 worth of cocaine,
$242,460 in marijuana, $18,105 in meth, $600 in heroin and 148 various
prescription pills seized by SID agents, according to the 2008 report
(see sidebar for amounts seized).

Two campaigns have been launched and are currently under way, and may
further boost numbers, sheriff's officials said. "Operation Crack-Pot
Garland," a campaign launched last year, has resulted in more than a
dozen arrests on Garland residents and in excess of 120 felony charges
encompassing possession, manufacture and sales of marijuana, heroin,
cocaine and meth after warrants were served early this year.

In 2008, SID has seen four cases adopted by federal authorities, sent
15 more to cold case files and closed 20 with unfounded
information.

The SID commander noted the intensive investigation by agents, with
more than 42 undercover and informant operations conducted, and 840
hours of surveillance. SID relies heavily on information from
residents, which is then checked out, the commander said. Sheriff
Jimmy Thornton has frequently encouraged anyone who detects anything
suspicious in their neighborhood to report it. If deputies find there
is something to the complaint, SID steps in.

Searches conducted by SID for possible illegal activity have been
plentiful, including searches of 57 homes, 80 vehicles and 91 people.
In addition, there have been 29 search warrants executed by agents, as
well as 34 "knock and talk" investigations.

The numbers are dictated heavily by information provided through
anonymous tips and the general public, the SID commander said. This
year, methamphetamine cases investigated by SID have been more
prevalent than others, often consuming days at a time due to the
nature of the investigation needed.

SID authorities have made 53 clandestine lab (meth and marijuana)
responses in 2008, resulting in the discovery of eight confirmed meth
labs and an additional marijuana operation.

The bulk of the responses have netted meth "dump sites," used to
describe an abandoned meth lab or an area where byproducts, remains
and trash created during the production of the drug are discarded. Law
enforcement officials said the sites are hazardous, and can be as
dangerous as an active meth lab.

Once a meth lab or dump site is found, the number of impending
man-hours required to secure and dismantle the labs can be daunting,
according to Thornton. It takes anywhere from 12 to 72 hours, and the
mandate that four deputies be present, to have a lab successfully
dismantled, with state authorities and hazardous materials teams also
called to respond.

The requirement that four deputies be present can often tie up one
investigation for several days, the SID commander said previously.
That four deputies matches the number of total agents, on average,
that have worked at any given time this year.