In a combined effort, state and federal agencies joined forces with the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, unraveling a web of suspected drug activity in the Hubert community.
The coordinated effort led to the arrest of three men—two from North Carolina and one from Georgia—after authorities seized more than 12 pounds of drugs and over $47,000 in cash.
On October 20, the Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Unit, with backup from the NCIS Special Operations, Jacksonville Police Special Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted a meticulous surveillance operation on a vehicle bearing out-of-state plates.
After observing suspicious behavior, deputies conducted a strategic traffic stop.
Inside the vehicle, investigators uncovered over two pounds of cocaine and a significant amount of cash, setting the stage for a more extensive search.
A search warrant soon led law enforcement to a Hubert residence at 276 Inverness Drive, where additional contraband was discovered: two more pounds of cocaine, ten pounds of marijuana, and $47,088 in cash.
The sheer volume of drugs and cash underscores the scale of alleged distribution activities in the area.
Gabriel Rivera, Timothy Butler, and Charlie Cobb Jr. were taken into custody on charges ranging from trafficking and conspiracy to intent to distribute.
Butler, 40, faces charges including three counts of trafficking cocaine and maintaining a dwelling for drug distribution. Cobb, 51, and Rivera, 42, also face multiple charges, each tied to an array of alleged trafficking and distribution activities.
The suspects remain held at Onslow County Jail under a $2 million bond each, as authorities continue investigations.
This bust, according to local officials, symbolizes a firm commitment to disrupting drug networks in Eastern Carolina, sending a clear message about the dedication to public safety and law enforcement.
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