NEW HANOVER COUNTY—Nearly 13 pounds of fentanyl was found by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Gang Task Force during a search warrant Wednesday, the largest amount the county’s detectives have ever seized.
The operation resulted in three arrests, stemming from heroin, fentanyl and other illegal drugs found in a home in Creekwood North.
RELATED: Despite outstanding warrants, arrest for recent string of larcenies, man released on unsecured bond
New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said the 12.7 pounds of fentanyl discovered. McMahon said it could be the largest amount seized in North Carolina.
“As far as we can tell this is one of the largest seizures in the state,” McMahon said at a press conference Friday. According to a New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office release, the fentanyl mixture has a $2 million street value.
A white, powdery substance, the opioid fentanyl is more powerful than heroin. In January, detectives seized 2.4 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman and child in New Hanover County, twice. The amount seized this week could kill five times that many people.
The investigation took several months, and according to McMahon, is still ongoing. Though the Sheriff’s Office could not tie the dealers – William McIntire, Charles Batts and Wanda Moore – to active gang members, detectives confirmed the fentanyl was being sold to local gangs in the region.
In addition to the approximately 5,775 grams of fentanyl found at the Creekwood North home at 1408 Kornegay Ave, detectives located heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia during the search.
“When you think about this poison, this fentanyl, one grain can kill you,” MacMahon said.
McMahon said his office believes the fentanyl is coming from Asia. Following this week’s arrests, the case has been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
McIntire, Batts and Moore were all located at the Creekwood North residence while the Sheriff’s Office conducted its search warrant. They were arrested at the scene, sharing a total of 28 charges.
The charges can be reviewed below,
William McIntire was charged with:
- Possession of Marijuana up to ½ oz
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Maintaining Vehicle
- Maintaining Dwelling
- Manufacture Schedule II CS
- Possess of heroin
- Conspire traffic opium/heroin (2 counts)
- Trafficking Opium/heroin (2 counts)
- PWIMSD Schedule II CS
- PWIMSD heroin
Charles Batts was charged with:
- Possession of controlled substance in jail
- Possess of heroin
- Possession drug paraphernalia
- Maintaining Dwelling
- Possession of Marijuana
- Possession of marijuana paraphernalia
- Conspire traffic opium/heroin (2 counts)
- PWIMSD Schedule II CS
- Manufacture Schedule II CS
- Trafficking Opium/heroin (2 counts)
Wanda Moore was charged with:
- Maintaining Dwelling
- Possess of heroin
- Possession of Marijuana up to ½ oz
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Conspire traffic opium/heroin (2 counts)
- Trafficking Opium/heroin (2 counts)
- PWIMSD Schedule II CS
- Manufacture Schedule II CS
Send tips to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com or follow Johanna on Twitter @j__ferebee