By Doug Clark

Assistant Editor

Three Hondurans were taken into custody late Friday night on a laundry list of drug charges after a joint investigation by five agencies that led to the seizure of 150 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $173,000, at a residence in Turkey. An undisclosed amount of cash was also confiscated.

Agents with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team executed the ‘high risk’ search warrant at 5120 Cornwallis Road, just outside of Turkey, late in the evening. According to Capt. Eric Pope, the search warrant was the culmination of a joint drug investigation by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.

“Based upon intelligence gathered through the investigation, it was deemed necessary to utilize a tactical team to execute the search warrant,” Pope stated in a release issued Saturday. “Through careful planning and execution no one was injured and the individuals were able to be taken into custody without incident.”

In addition to the marijuana and cash, agents also seized several computers, a motorcycle and a cargo trailer.

Edwin Jesus Escalante, 25, of 5120 Cornwallis Road, Turkey, was charged with trafficking by possession of marijuana; trafficking by manufacturing of marijuana; possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a shed for the sale/storage of a controlled substance; maintaining a residence for the sale/storage of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Medardo Chavez Alfaro, 21, of 5120 Cornwallis Road, Turkey, was also charged with trafficking by possession of marijuana; trafficking by manufacturing of marijuana; possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a shed for the sale/storage of a controlled substance; maintaining a residence for the sale/storage of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Roger Rapalo-Amador, 30, of 5120 Cornwallis Road, Turkey, was charged with trafficking by possession of marijuana; trafficking by manufacturing of marijuana; possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a shed for the sale/storage of a controlled substance; maintaining a residence for the sale/storage of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three men were placed in the Sampson County Detention Center; each was given a $500,000 bond.

“I’m just thankful for the spirit of cooperation that we share with the state and federal agencies involved in this operation,” said Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. “Through information sharing and teamwork, we were able to disrupt a large marijuana distribution ring in Sampson County. These are drugs that are not on the streets anymore and will not have the opportunity to get in the hands of children of Sampson County.”

To reach Doug Clark call (910) 592-8137 ext. 139 or send email to sisports@myclintonnc.com.