Eight busted in Chatham opioid pill network

After a three-month investigation, authorities seized 887 prescription opiate pills, 224 Xanax, 8.5 grams of marijuana, two vehicles and $4,647 in cash.

"The hard work paid off. We're very happy with the results, and the guys did a phenomenal job," said Lt. Andre Gipson of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office. "We're not done. We're going to continue to tackle the opioid epidemic, and hopefully we'll make a dent."

Alisha Denise Moore, 36, of 227 Moores Crossing in Bear Creek; Thomas Neil Moore, 61, of 265 Moores Crossing; James Kilgore, 66, Melinda Rose Kilgore, 65, and Rebecca Diane Kilgore, 43, all of 141 Kilgore Hill Road in Siler City; Donna Dowd Maness, 51, of 44 McLeods Way in Bear Creek; and Willie Ricks, 71, and Mary Ann Patterson, 58, both of 509 S. 3rd St. in Sanford, face a combined 127 charges, including conspiracy to traffic opiates.

"You cannot arrest your way out of this problem," Sheriff Mike Roberson said, noting agency is attacking the opioid epidemic from all angles.

"A year and a half ago, we put Narcan in all of our cars because we've seen overdoses from the opioid epidemic," he said of the drug to counteract overdoses, noting that it has saved at least two lives.

"We're also working with the health department, with treatment options, with prevention options and with other nonprofits to try and get ahead of this curve," he said.

Roberson said his deputies are targeting high school students, noting teens don't view opioids as being as bad as other drugs since they can be prescribed by a doctor. The sheriff's office is looking for ways to educate students before they get hooked, he said.