ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
A three-month undercover operation by Salem police has led to 27 drug-related charges against 14 people from Salem and Roanoke, police said Friday.
Police have arrested nine people on charges of distributing drugs including crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, Chief James Bryant said. Two of those also were charged with distributing an imitation substance as crack cocaine.
Two others were charged with possession of cocaine or marijuana and intent to distribute the drugs.
And one juvenile was charged with possession of marijuana.
Police are still searching for two people indicted last week on similar charges as a result of the operation.
Bryant would not give details on what led police to conduct the undercover operation or how many informants police had.
"From the things we see and the things we hear - we determined there was a need," he said.
After one arrest, police seized more than $3,300 in cash, three loaded semi-automatic weapons, some crack cocaine and a half-pound of marijuana.
Police also have seized two safes and one vehicle.
Bryant said this has been the biggest drug bust in quite some time by the police department, but it is not the largest ever.
"Our vice people have really been hustling here lately," he said.
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