Officials Seize 12 Pounds of Cocaine, Arrest 4

Staff Writer
Suspects Arrested in Drug Trafficking Investigation

Genoveva Jimenez Bautista, Nicolas Hernandez Benitez, Luis Maldonado Diaz and Luis Sanchez Rivera (left to right) (August 13, 2010)
ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) - Officials seized 12 pounds of cocaine and over $75,000 in cash during a multi-county drug trafficking investigation.

On Thursday, the Alamance County Sheriff's Office was contacted by deputies in Lee County regarding a drug trafficking investigation. The case originated in Charlotte, progressed to Lee and Chatham Counties and reached into southern Alamance County.

Investigators went to a home at 9473 B Perry Road in Graham. At that location, authorities arrested two suspects in connection with the investigation. Officials arrested Luis Maldonado Diaz, 42, of Charlotte, and Nicolas Hernandez Benitez, 39, of Charlottesville, Va.

Two other suspects fled out the rear of the residence, initiating a manhunt for several hours. Officials searched the perimeter and the Highway Patrol provided a helicopter to assist in the search.

Deputies said these two suspects are still at large.

Diaz and Benitez were charged with Level III trafficking cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and several other drug charges.

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They were each placed in the Alamance County Jail under a $450,000 bond.

Deputies later arrested two additional suspects during a traffic stop. Luis Sanchez Rivera, 21, and Genoveva Jimenez Bautista, 24, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and possession of cocaine.

They were each placed in the Alamance County Jail under a $250,000 bond.

These two suspects are in addition to the suspects that fled investigators at the home on Perry Road.

At the time of their arrests, Rivera and Bautista had outstanding detainers from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Benitez had a detainer filed under the 287g program.

During the investigation, officials seized over 14 pounds of cocaine, $75,437 in cash, one AK 47 assault rifle, 10 motor vehicles and various mechanic tools.

Officials are still searching for two Hispanic males. Anyone with additional information about this investigation should contact the Alamance County Sheriff's Office at 336-570-6313.

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