The Sheriff?s Anti-Crime/Narcotics unit is comprised of 10 detectives. The detectives work drug related cases and cases that reflect narcotic involvement. These cases range from major (large quantity) cases, to street level interdiction. The Detectives gather information through observation and citizen/informant information. They attempt to purchase drugs from given locations by using informants or direct purchase by the detectives. When these methods fail, the detectives use surveillance and vehicular stops of persons purchasing from the location to build enough probable cause to apply for a search warrant to enter the premises, search and seize any illegal narcotics.
This unit is also responsible for identifying and destroying the open growing of marijuana within all of Durham County. The unit in conjunction with the North Carolina National Guard?s Joint Counter Drug Task Force Aviation unit fly spotter missions in order to spot marijuana growing in Durham. During the 1997 growing season over 3,000 marijuana plants were pulled and destroyed. This was the largest seizure during eradication within a seven county district and the third largest seizure statewide.
The Sheriff's Anti-Crime/Narcotics unit has one investigator assigned to investigate child pornography on the Internet. These investigations take many man-hours and can be very intense and disturbing with the perpetrators with which they are dealing. |
