Operation Maple Leaf Results in Several Drug Arrests

OCTOBER 5, 2005 -- Authorities say tubs of marijuana, bags of cocaine, weapons and ammunition are what a dangerous group in Maple Hill were trafficking, keeping a low profile from the law.

Operation Maple Leaf began two years ago with complaints from citizens in the small town and ended with major arrests.

More than fifty people were caught. Many were charged and sentenced to at least 11 years in prison.

"We have bigger seizures, more serious charges, longer prison sentences. The cost of doing business for career criminals in north carolina just went up," says District Attorney Ben David.

Investigators say the career criminals were of Honduran and Mexican descent. They dealt guns and narcotics from south of the U.S. border to eastern North Carolina.
Nine federal and state agencies went undercover to investigate the groups operation. Now, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith warns his residents he'll be watching.

"The bad guys got caught this time. If they do it again, we'll get them again."


Each month, authorities say the criminals sold more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and a thousand pounds of pot in the community.
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