THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506220465
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: AHOSKIE LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
About 50 local and state police converged on Ahoskie Wednesday for a drug sweep that resulted in 43 arrests and is considered the biggest bust in the Hertford County town's history.
``I think, hopefully, it sends a dual message,'' said Ahoskie Police Chief Steve Hoggard. ``To the criminal element, we're going to be vigilant in trying to apprehend them. And to our citizens, that we're out here and we're going to do the best we can do to protect them, protect their property and protect their interests.''
Wednesday's arrests culminated a 10-month police undercover investigation that began after merchants complained about suspicious activity in and around Main Street.
``Operation Main Street,'' headed by Ahoskie Det. Sgt. M.D. Williams, resulted in four arrests for marijuana possession and almost 40 charges for cocaine and crack-cocaine possession and possession with the intent to deliver.
Charged were 17 Ahoskie residents, 15 Hertford County citizens, four Winton residents, three Murfreesboro citizens and four people from Bertie County, Hoggard said.
The quantity of $20 to $50 bags of the crack cocaine seized was still being tabulated Wednesday.
Last year, a joint effort between federal officials and the Roanoke-Chowan Narcotics Task Force ``took down'' a drug organization in northeastern North Carolina and seized more than $1 million in crack cocaine.
The regional task force also assisted in this week's raid, as did the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, state Alcohol Law Enforcement and the Williamston Police Department.
Other law enforcement organizations involved included the police departments in Murfreesboro, Winton and Aulander, the Hertford County and Bertie County sheriff's departments and the state Department of Corrections.
``It is hoped that this operation, along with some other things we are working on, will help stem the availability of street drugs in Ahoskie,'' Hoggard said in a news release.
The police chief also said he hoped ``Operation Main Street'' would ``provide for a safer community, as many of the persons charged have records of violent behavior, as well as extensive criminal records for property crimes.''
KEYWORDS: DRUG ARRESTS DRUG RINGS MARIJUANA
COCAINE by CNB