THORNTON SAYS THAT COMMUNICATION VITAL IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

In 2005, Sampson County Sheriff's authorities seized nearly $9
million in drugs, seven times the value of total drugs seized by the
office in 2004. And that $9 million in narcotics seized last year has
already more than doubled just weeks into 2006 with the seizure of
$20 million in cocaine in the southern part of the county at the end
of January.

Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said that the last year's
numbers reflect a hard-working Sheriff's Office and a community that
has alerted law enforcement to activity that may be suspicious. In
most cases, the concerns of citizens are valid - and the seizures
that come with responses to calls of suspicious activity and
subsequent investigations by sheriff's authorities speak for themselves.

"The dollar amounts are astronomical," Thornton said. "I think the
average Sampsonian would be shocked and surprised."

According to statistics compiled by the Sheriff's Special
Investigation Division, the value of drugs seized in 2005 was $8.93
million. There was in excess of $3.5 million in cocaine and $5.3
million in marijuana seized, the stats show.

The total value of drugs seized in 2005 was a huge jump from the
$1.27 million in 2004, which was still an increase over the
approximately $861,000 the year before.

There were also 11 confirmed methamphetamine labs dismantled in the
county during 2005, resulting in 34 arrests. Those numbers were up
from two labs in 2004, with 27 methamphetamine-related arrests.

According to SID, operations consisted of 102 confidential informants
and 56 undercover operations. There were 82 "knock and talks"
conducted, as well as 23 search warrants obtained and executed.

There were 429 total charges brought in 263 arrests made in 2005, SID
reported. The charges included drugs, weapons and alcohol charges, as
well as traffic violations.

Thornton said that he felt immense pride in the efforts put forth by
deputies with the Sheriff's Office in the fight against drugs in the
county. And, Thornton said, Sampson County residents are a large part
in helping law enforcement in that fight.

"It is important that we communicate to people," the sheriff said.
"I'm very fortunate that we have the community behind us like we
have. We can't afford to lose that."

The sheriff said that he felt it was important to have the open line
of communication between the Sheriff's Office and county residents.
Drugs are something that can act to affect everyone in the community, he said.

"They need to know what all we have going on in this county," said
Thornton, "and the fact that it drives everything else."

Thornton, along with any other member of the Sheriff's Office, will
be quick to say that the fight against drugs is an ongoing one - as
seen by the overwhelmingly large cocaine bust in the county last
month, which Thornton called the largest he had ever encountered.

On Jan. 23, two men were stopped as they were traveling on Edmond
Matthis Road in the Ingold community and found in possession of 440
pounds (200 kilograms) of cocaine.

The seizure was the result of a joint investigation by authorities
with Sheriff's Offices in Sampson County, Duplin County, New Hanover
County, and Wake County, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Thornton said that the drug bust, and similar busts in the county,
should act to give citizens something to be proud of, because they
are just as much a part of the effort.

"The people in this county should hold their heads up."