NC correctional officer arrested; deputies find 99 guns, opioids and cocaine at his home

Derek C. Madden, 32, a prison guard at Tabor Correctional Institution, is facing dozens of drug charges, including trafficking opium or heroin and possession with intent to distribute schedule two and three substances.

Madden is being held at the Robeson County Detention Center under a $1 million bond.

Deputies found cocaine and several different kinds of opioids, including fentanyl, at his home off N.C. Highway 72. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said that Madden had enough fentanyl in his home to kill 12,000 people.

Wilkins said the drug bust was part of a months-long investigation. His deputies went undercover and made several buys from Madden, Wilkins said.

The investigation began after sheriff's deputies began looking into a number of associated drug-overdose deaths. That's when they stumbled across Madden.

"It's an unbelievable catch," Wilkins said. "In my career, I've never seen this many guns taken from one location."

Sheriff's office investigators said that Madden was using a false Lumberton police officer's badge. Deputies also believe Madden was also using his power as a detention office to allow for drugs or weapons to be sent to inmate's mailboxes.

Photos show deputies seized dozens of guns, including shotguns, handguns and rifles. Madden is facing nine counts of possession of a stolen firearm.

Madden was hired in October 2016 to work at the state prison and resigned on Friday from his position.