Raids shut down marijuana operations in Durham, Moore counties

The raids happened at homes in Durham and Robbins, and authorities arrested suspects in both locations.

In Durham, sheriff’s deputies seized 31 pounds of marijuana, 158 marijuana plants and more than $40,000 during a raid on a home at 909 Goodwin Road, where they also found a pistol and items used to prepare marijuana for sale.

Deputies said a man identified as Robert Lewis Carden Jr., 31, ran from the home when they entered at about 6:30 p.m., but he was quickly captured. He was booked in the Durham County jail on charges of manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana, trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to sell, deliver or manufacture marijuana.

Carden was released Friday on a $100,000 bond.

Deputies estimated the street value of the narcotics at about $835,000, along with a tax value of $66,920, which Carden will be required to pay or face civil penalties. Carden was released Friday from the Durham County jail on a $100,000 bond.

In Moore County, sheriff’s deputies were part of a multi-agency raid on a home at 362 Hillside Road in Robbins. Investigators found an elaborate marijuana-growing operation.

“The operation was located in a series of underground rooms, which were designed and constructed to facilitate the manufacturing process,” deputies said in a statement Friday. “The operation was producing high-grade marijuana.”

Deputies seized 822 marijuana plants, 36 pounds of marijuana, 762 doses of the painkiller Roxicodone, 783 doses of the painkiller Lorcet, eight firearms, drug paraphernalia and nearly $1,000.

Deputies said the drugs had a street value of $515,450.

David Craig Ellington, 49, who lives at the home, was charged with two counts of felony trafficking in marijuana, two counts of felony maintaining a place to keep controlled substances, felony manufacture of marijuana, felony possession with intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture marijuana, felony trafficking in opium, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators also charged Ellington with felony cockfighting after they found metallic spurs at the residence.

Ellington was held at the Moore County Detention Center on a $150,000 bond.