POLICE STORM HOMES IN SEARCH OF DRUG TRAFFICKING EVIDENCE

ASHEVILLE - Police stormed six Buncombe County homes Thursday morning to
search for evidence of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

The officers were looking for drugs and weapons as well as money,
technology, financial and travel documents and other records that could have
been used in drug trafficking, according to search warrants. They took
paperwork, money, pictures, cellular phones, cell phone bills, a handgun and
other items from the six houses.

No one was arrested during the search, and no drugs were taken from the six
homes.

The Metropolitan Enforcement Group has been investigating the suspected
Buncombe County drug ring since last September. The agency is made up of
city, county and state law officers and focuses on drug crimes.

The investigation involved informants purchasing cocaine with money from
MEG, warrants said. One of MEG's confidential informants has paid the
conspirators more than $760,000 for more than 28 kilograms, or about 62
pounds, of cocaine, according to search warrants. The ring's suspected
leader is known to have any amount of various illegal drugs available upon
request, the search warrants state.

"The suspect has quickly gained notoriety within this jurisdiction,"
warrants said.

Investigators coordinated the 8 a.m. raid using special tactics units from
the Asheville Police Department, N.C. Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of
Investigation, and the Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson County Sheriffs'
Departments, said Lt. S. Allen of MEG. The searched homes were in Asheville,
Woodfin and Weaverville.

An informant also told investigators that the suspected drug traffickers
could have automatic weapons, making the search dangerous for officers. For
that reason, officers were allowed to break into the homes Thursday morning
without first identifying themselves or their purpose, Allen said.

"Conspiracies are very complex cases to put together," Allen said. "There
will be arrests."