CRACKING DOWN ON COUNTY'S DRUG PROBLEM

Drugs Are Prevalent In Sampson County.

All it takes is reading this newspaper every day to understand the
truth in that statement.

One day you'll read about a methamphetamine lab that's been dismantled
and a suspect arrested; another you'll see where a group of residents,
living together, have been apprehended for a serious of cocaine charges.

And then there's the dozens of pounds of marijuana that law
enforcement officers have confiscated in just the last few months alone.

Couple that with the heroin and crack use that runs rampant in our
community, and it's simple math.

While no statistics are available, we've no doubt for every one person
arrested on drug charges in this county, there are probably five more
that continue to run free.

But their time is running out.

Sampson County's Sheriff's officers and Clinton's police investigators
are serious about throwing the spotlight on drug dealers, the areas in
which they ply their trade and the people with whom they try to sell
their illegal wares.

In an interview with Sheriff Jimmy Thornton and members of his Special
Investigative Division for a story on drugs that will appear in this
paper next week, Thornton talked at length about his focus on drugs
and his appreciation to residents from throughout Sampson County
who've been willing to come forward with information that has helped
them to shine that spotlight on drug suspects.

As Thornton said, sometimes the spotlight alone is enough of a
deterrent to send dealers packing.

And we say good riddance.

Our local law enforcement officers are doing a tremendous job of
cracking down on dealers, and while some may question the value of an
arrest where only a small amount of cocaine or marijuana is seized,
you can believe what is confiscated during a raid is just a thimble
full of what most suspects have.

But the thimble full that is confiscated is an ounce or two or three
that won't get to our children or infect another person with an
addiction they can't shake.

And the suspects arrested are just that many more off the street and
unable to continue their trade, at least for a little while.

It may not eradicate the drug problem - that would take eliminating
the need - but what our law enforcement officers are doing in the city
and in the county is sending a clear signal.

We hope dealers get it loud and clear.