Pubdate: Mon, 20 Mar 2006
Source: Dispatch, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006, The Lexington Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.the-dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1583
Author: Ese Isiorho, The Dispatch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

VICE AND NARCOTICS UNIT DOES WELL IN '05

In All, 42,000 Grams of Drugs Were Seized

The Davidson County Sheriff's Office Vice and Narcotics Unit ended
2005 with seizures of more than 42,000 grams of illegal drugs.

"I think they're doing an excellent job," said Sheriff David Grice. "I
think the statistics indicate that they're out there every day."

Last year, the unit seized 6,418 grams of cocaine, 35,542 grams of
marijuana, 121 grams of crystal meth, 31.2 grams of methamphetamine,
413 Oxycontin tablets, 23 Ecstasy tablets, 112 illegal guns, 122
gallons of nontax-paid alcohol and $585,541 in cash.

The unit also busted two meth labs and two gambling rings and
confiscated eight vehicles for sheriff's office use.

"It was a good year for us," said a member of the vice
team.

Because of their undercover work, detectives must keep their
identities private.

Sheriff's candidates are pledging to take steps to help stop the flow
of drugs in the county as the election period nears.

Democratic sheriff's candidate Roy Holman, a retired highway
patrolman, praised the sheriff's deputies, but as he filed for sheriff
last month, he said the drug problem in the county needs to be addressed.

Republican Wayne Littleton has said if he is elected sheriff "the drug
dealers and gang members better go ahead and pack their bags."

This year, narcotic detectives made a seizure of 13 kilos of
cocaine.

"It's interesting to match wits with the drug dealers," a vice officer
said.

"Every day's completely different," said a detective who has worked
vice for four years.

Long hours and tense situations create a close-knit feel among those
in the unit.

"We probably spend more time together working than we do with our
family," said one officer, and the others agreed. But they insist that
their job is worth the dedication. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't."

Members of the vice and narcotics unit combine 26 years of experience.
Each detective has drug enforcement training, and all of them have
attended the North Carolina Narcotics Association school. The officers
also receive on-the-job training each day as they do their probes and
undercover work.

Each member of the unit indicated they have feelings of pride when
they make a bust. One said, "You just feel like you accomplished
something. When it all comes together, it makes it worthwhile."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake