A search of a vehicle Wednesday afternoon turned up 5,000 bindles of black tar heroin, that had a street value of $135,000, and a small caliber weapon.

Two men, Tyresse Allen, 25, of 213 Forest Avenue, Waynesboro, Va., and Anthony Taylor, 20, of 248 South Windchester Avenue, Waynesboro, Va., were each charged with three counts of trafficking heroin and possession of a possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver heroin. Allen was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon. Taylor was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

Both men were each given $500,000 secured bonds and given trial dates of July 8.

According to reports, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Team stopped a green Honda Civic on Interstate 40 near the 351 mile marker in the east bound lane for a minor traffic violation. During the initial approach to the vehicle, the deputy smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and the driver, later identified as Allen, gave him a fictitious name. The deputy requested another deputy to assist in searching the vehicle. During the subsequent search 5,000 bindles of heroin were discovered in the vehicle in addition to the handgun.

“The heroin weighed approximately 3.1 pounds and was valued at a little over $135,000.00,” said Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. “We have reason to believe that the two subjects were on the way to Wilmington with the heroin. I’m just glad that we were able to prevent such a large amount of a dangerous drug from getting on the streets and into the hands of someone’s child or loved one.”

Thornton noted that in the past two weeks the Criminal Interdiction Team has seized five kilos of cocaine, 5,000 bindles of heroin, 8 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, $11,000 in cash, in addition to capturing two wanted persons.

When asked about the time is being dedicated to I-40, Thornton said, “I’m continuously asked why I don’t reassign personnel from the Criminal Interdiction to other assignments,” he said. “Quite simply the deputies assigned to the Criminal Interdiction are the only personnel that have the flexibility and the specialized training to focus on street level drug enforcement and focused patrols in high crime areas. If I were to reassign those deputies, our street level drug interdiction efforts would be non-existent, because road patrol deputies are too busy responding from call to call, dealing with mental health commitments and serving court papers to conduct interdiction work.”

Thornton said that he has no interest in divulging how many deputies are working the area and how or when they are out.

“My drug unit coordinates covert drug investigations that require surveillance, undercover purchases and search warrant executions, which severely restricts their ability to handle street-level drug interdiction work,” he said. “The work of the Criminal Interdiction Team and the Special Investigations Division provide a comprehensive drug enforcement approach. Since the large majority of criminal activity is driven by drugs and alcohol it is essential that we continue to maintain and enhance our drug and alcohol enforcement efforts ... I am not going to let those criminals know how and when the drug teams are out there or to know our game plans. Why should I? We are doing our best to be out there and stop these drugs coming in and through this county. We owe it to the citizens to protect them and I am certainly not going to compromise my deputies’ safety by letting everyone know our approach.”

Last August, the unit made the second largest heroin bust in the state after seizing over a million dollars after a routine traffic stop on I-40.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.