SHERIFF TOUTS DEPARTMENT'S WORK AGAINST DRUG DEALING

County Sheriff Ed Brown Said He Believes Drugs Are Just As Bad As Terrorism.

Starting in February, his department waged an undercover war on drugs
in Onslow County. Brown told the Onslow County Board of Commissioners
on Monday that there have been nearly 500 warrants issued for illegal
drug deals throughout the county since that time.

"Drug dealers and terrorists are one in the same," he said.

One of the department's major targets has been the Paradise Landing
bar in Sneads Ferry. Brown told the commissioners that out of 146
warrants for selling drugs in Sneads Ferry during the operation, 116
of them were associated with the bar.

He also said he expected to file a charge connected to alleged prostitution.

"First-hand observation of male-female partners going and coming from
Paradise Landing . would indicate to a reasonable and prudent person
that prostitution was occurring," Brown said.

Brown said he contacted the state Alcohol Law Enforcement division to
investigate the bar to look at possibly invoking a nuisance and
abatement, which could lead to the bar's closure.

Other parts of the county also had drug selling warrants issued,
including four in the Belgrade community, 40 in Jacksonville, 23 in
Maple Hill, 93 in Piney Green and 120 in the Southwest area.