FROM STAFF REPORTS
Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies seized $3.75 million worth of fentanyl during a traffic stop on Interstate 77 on Sunday.
Sheriff Darren Campbell called the seizure of 118 pounds of suspected fentanyl, which was mixed with cocaine, a record for the ICSO and possibly the State of North Carolina.
Members of the ICO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team stopped a northbound 18-wheeler on Sunday for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, Canine Groot was deployed and gave a positive identification for the presence of narcotics, the sheriff said.
Deputies found the fentanyl packaged in bricks, which were hidden inside duffel bags, along with more than $100,000 in cash, Campbell said.
Two men who were traveling in the 18-wheeler were charged with trafficking heroin.
Lorenzo Juan Arreola, 44, of Sunland Park, N.M., and Lucio Eduardo Chavira Avila, 33, of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, were transported to the Iredell County Detention Center.
Both suspects were jailed in lieu of a $3.5 million bond.
The men were traveling from Charlotte to Philadelphia with a load of tile, according to the ICSO. The drugs entered the United States from the Southern border less than two days before they were seized, Campbell said.
The quantity of fentanyl seized by deputies was enough to kill 26.8 million people, he added.
The sheriff said he hoped the seizure would serve as a wake-up call for federal lawmakers. He urged members of Congress to pass H.R. 3333, the FEND off Fentanyl Act, which would provide tools to deter international fentanyl trafficking and prosecute fentanyl-related money laundering.
“The supply of illegal drugs is at an all-time high across our nation, which drives violence, addictions and other crimes,” Campbell said. “Law enforcement is frustrated with the overdose deaths, crime and violence that follows the drug trade.
“We need our lawmakers to secure our borders and provide the resources to stop the flow of these deadly narcotics across the Southern border.”
Good job deputies and Groot!
Great Job ICSO!
Good Job ICSO! Get that stuff off the streets. We’ve lost too many people because of this nasty drug. People out there that mess with it — I ask please STOP and buzz for a little while. It isn’t WORTH your life. There’s help out there if you need it. If you didn’t have insurance, try again because laws have changed and more people can get insurance as of Dec. 1.
Great Job ICSO & K9 Groot! Keep Up The Great Job! Now if our Federal Lawmakers Can Please Do Their Job & Secure Our Southern Borders! “We The People” Are Watching & Have Been Waiting For Far Too Long For This Action! Once Again, Thank You Sheriff Campbell & ICSO For Going “Above & Beyond” In Taking These Extremely Deadly Drugs Off The Streets!
An excellent post. I am a retired teacher and I have seen too many lives destroyed by drugs. Yes. please change some laws so law enforcement can keep us safe.
Good job, ICSO. Get that stuff off the streets. We’ve lost too many people to drugs.
The lame Biden/Harris/Myorkis all have blood on their hands. They should all be impeached and indicted for their complicit failure to follow their basic sworn duty and allow this BS along with millions of our most dreaded enemies to send their fighting age young to possibly attack America. This invasion must be stopped. There must be a military-enforced border closure now! This fentanyl is basically given to the cartel for free by the CCP to take out our fighting-age youth. Heed this warning. The CCP is at war with us. Contact your congressman. Stand up. They must and will listen if we demand this to stop. Biden is paying unlawful noncitizens almost $700 billion annually. This is bankrupting us.
WOW. THANK GOD THAT DIDDNT HIT THE STREETS AND TAKE ANOTHER FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER OR LOVED ONE! WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE THESE CHANCES KNOWING THEY ARE GONNA GET CAUGHT? I’M SURE THERE’S ANOTHER ONE SOON TO FOLLOW BUT DONT WORRY Guys… Groot will get ya! THANKS IREDELL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
JERRY J. BENFIELD
STATESVILLE NC.
Biden: BUILD THE WALL AT THE BORDER!
So thankful for the job our officers do. We appreciate you all. Keep our people safe!
Great accomplishment. Our government is failing us! Fentanyl has affected our family directly. Drugs are EVERYWHERE. We have lost too many young people. It’s a chemical attack on the US. Why aren’t chemicals that kill people treated as attempted murder with NO BOND and illegals immediately deported? CLOSE THE BORDERS NOW!!
Ever wonder how ‘lil ole Iredell County gets such major busts so frequently? I know I do.
Citizens of our Great Nation, the good ole US of A, please contact your government reps. And ask them to support and put into effect HR 3333.
Wow. Thanks sent to all you officers for all your hard work. We are blessed to have you all trying to keep us all safe.
Traffic violation stop … uh huh. LOL
Glad somebody else notices this. How extremely lucky to turn a simple traffic stop into a bust of this magnitude.
How else would they know it crossed the border 2 days ago?
If people in the United States would stop consuming these drugs, it probably would stop. Unfortunately, it’s being consumed here. The drug cartels know that Americans will buy these drugs.
Sit them down at a table with the drugs they are peddling and force them to partake of their own wares. If they can peddle it, they can consume it! Make it the law of the drug community. (AND SHUT DOWN THAT BORDER!)
Thank you so much for your great job and special hug to that dog.
Two thumbs up for our sheriff and the deputies. Don’t forget the other deputy with four legs! Secure the border.
Thank you!