Drug trafficking Coverage

How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending April 18

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

Police: Man arrested, charged with smuggling over 20 pounds of heroin into Rocky Mount

On Sunday, Rocky Mount police said they arrested a man on Friday they say smuggled over 20 pounds of heroin on an Amtrack train. According to the Rocky Mount Police Department, officers arrested 57-year-old Keith Haskins after a months-long investigation into drug trafficking.

WRAL staff

RDU police take down 3 men at baggage claim for trafficking more than 120 pounds of marijuana

Three men were arrested at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) Thursday after authorities said they were caught transporting more than 120 pounds of marijuana.

WRAL staff

Three men arrested at RDU, accused of trafficking 121 lbs of marijuana

Three men were arrested at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) Thursday after authorities said they were caught transporting more than 120 pounds of marijuana.

Two NC men sentenced for having Glock switches

Glock switches are placed on Glock handguns, making them fully automatic. Authorities said having the switch can carry a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. When converted, the converted handgun can dump 50 rounds of ammunition in a matter of seconds, making it a big concern for law enforcement officers across the country.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

Man arrested after K-9 finds over 20lbs of cocaine during traffic stop in Nash County

Nash County deputies conducted a probable cause search of the man's car after a K-9 unit deputies to the positive presence of narcotics.

Wayne County K9 helps bust 2 men trafficking 47 pounds of marijuana

Johnson and Duren, of Goldsboro were charged with trafficking marijuana by possession and trafficking by transportation.

WRAL News

Rocky Mount gang leader sentenced to 30 years for drug trafficking, more than $250K in COVID-19 fraud

A Rocky Mount gang leader was sentenced on Friday for his role in a drug trafficking operation and fraudulently obtaining more than $250,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Editorial: With criminal crackdown, funding community treatment for addiction impacts even more crucial

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 -- Getting tough criminal laws grabs get-tough headlines and photo opportunities with uniformed law enforcement leaders. But legislators must not neglect the larger part of the problem - cutting the demand and getting those who are hooked on opioids the opportunity for treatment and recovery.

Plea: Raleigh police officer sold cocaine while on duty

Raleigh police officer Keven Rodriguez pleaded guilty to three drug trafficking charges while working on duty in his position as a field operations division officer.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

Lawmakers, families fight for harsher punishment to combat fentanyl crisis

Lawmakers and families impacted by the opioid and fentanyl crisis will show up at the legislative building Tuesday morning to push for tighter laws.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL anchor/reporter

Leader of motorcycle gang sentenced for trafficking meth, firearms

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, federal officials and the Raleigh Police Department announce the sentence of Christopher Lamar Baker, a leader of the Pagan motorcycle gang, who was convicted last year of drug trafficking, firearm and money laundering charges.

Leader of motorcycle gang will spend his life in federal prison for meth trafficking operation

The Raleigh-based leader of a national bike gang will spend the rest of his life in prison for trafficking massive amounts of methamphetamine and firearms across the East Coast.

WRAL staff

Former Rocky Mount officer charged with selling cocaine, 198 grams seized from truck

A retired Rocky Mount police officer was arrested and charged with selling cocaine, according to the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Adam Owens, WRAL anchor/reporter

Man caught trafficking cocaine in Nash County arrested, gets $3M bond

A man known for trafficking cocaine within Nash County was arrested in Nashville on Thursday.

Fact check: In two months, did border agents seize more fentanyl than in 2019?

The West Virginia Republican Party recently took to Twitter to criticize President Joe Biden for the continuing flow of fentanyl into the country, tweeting: "More fentanyl has crossed the border in the last two months under Biden than in 2019 under Trump." PolitiFact checks the claim.

Megan Bevins and Pearse Costello, PolitiFact reporters

Leaders roll out new strategy to curb violence in Raleigh

On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr. announced the establishment of the Violent Crime Action Partnership (VCAP) in Raleigh. Several area law enforcement agencies joined Easley on Tuesday to announce that grand juries have indicted 27 people in the last three weeks in Raleigh.

'The violence must stop': Federal partnership leads to indictment of 27 people in Raleigh on gun and drug charges

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr. said that there have already been 24 homicides so far this year in Raleigh. He said the city had 33 homicides total in 2021.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Citing 'collective malevolence' court upholds Raleigh gang leaders' life sentences

Gang-related murder, racketeering and drug trafficking charges were upheld for two Raleigh gang leaders on Thursday.

Fact check: Did border patrol seize enough fentanyl to kill every American 7 times?

In an April 1 press release, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., raised the alarm about fentanyl being smuggled into the United States: "In Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), 11,201 pounds of fentanyl were seized by Customs and Border Protection, which is enough to kill every American nearly seven times over." PolitiFact checks her claim.

Elizabeth Egan and Marnique Panepento, PolitiFact reporters

Doctor sentenced for drug trafficking in Columbus County

75-year-old John Whan Kim and his co-defendant Tammy Thomas pled guilty to multiple federal drug trafficking charges.

Raleigh police chief says she is 'disappointed' after one of her officers charged with drug trafficking

"Today is an occasion that no head of a law enforcement agency desires for their department. The arrest of Mr. Rodriguez is a disappointment to me, the Raleigh Police Department and the citizens and residents of our community," said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.

Dunn man pleads guilty to possession of weapons of mass destruction after blast injures SBI agents

A 36-year-old man from Dunn pled guilty to three counts of possessions of a weapon of mass destruction that seriously injured two State Bureau of Investigations agents.

Mistrial on drug charges leaves Fayetteville man in limbo

Reshod Everett remains in federal custody while prosecutors decide whether to retry the case.

Virginia bank teller pleads guilty to stealing cash, drug trafficking in Durham

A Virginia bank teller pled guilty Monday after authorities say he abused his position and used it to steal money and traffic drugs in both Virginia and Durham.