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Consider a few sobering statistics. Each year, $34 billion worth of cocaine is sold on American streets, according to the Organization of American States. With every purchase, addicts and users fuel the illegal trade.
Worse yet, many don’t know what’s in the drugs they’re taking. Some are life-threatening mixtures of a variety of substances ranging from fentanyl to heroin to crystal meth. Many dealers cut these mixtures further with a variety of cheap chemicals to help stretch profits, including common household powders or even lead.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spearheads the attempts of various agencies to tackle this illegal trade. They note that 27,107 arrests were made in 2017 for drug distribution, a downward trend from the 28,914 arrests in 2016. It’s an encouraging statistic, but a look at one such incident illustrates the necessity of keeping the pressure on.
Norwich, New York – What Happened
About 5:30 a.m. on a mid-December morning, agents from the Chenango County Sherriff’s Office, the New York State Police and the Norwich Police Department used a no-knock warrant to enter a property. The apartment, located in Norwich, New York, contained significant amounts of illicit drugs and paraphernalia according to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.
Police arrested two people, both with prior records, for possession and intent to sell drugs. Corey A. Weidman, 34, and Cheyanne D. Moore, 22, were taken to a local jail and booked into custody on felony counts for first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. A judge set their bail at $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. It was the successful culmination of a long-term drug trafficking investigation.
What the Police Recovered
The bust recovered 1.8 kilograms of highly dangerous and addictive crystal methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized 3 ounces of cocaine and 4.5 ounces of marijuana, LSD and MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.
Each one of these drugs is highly addictive, and some can cause sudden death on first use. The drugs were worth an estimated $180,000 if sold on the street. The street value for the three ounces of cocaine alone is $8,400 according to The Daily Star. Investigators also found SUBOXONE® strips, a loaded handgun, a 2004 Honda Civic vehicle and $35,625 in cash.
This criminal activity is suspected to be a part of a larger drug distribution ring that’s operated in the area for some time. Police continue to investigate and say they may make additional arrests in the near future. According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting Jr., the current arrests make police vigilance increasingly important.
A Criminal Drug History
This isn’t the first time the suspects were charged with illegal drug activity. Moore is currently on supervised release from a federal drug conviction for buying and reselling heroin and cocaine. Weidman is also a convicted felon, paroled from New York State prison in 2013 after serving time for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Do You Know Someone Who Needs Substance Use Disorder Care?
Many people using street drugs need help to break an addiction fuelled by dangerous street trafficking operations like the one seen in Norwich bust. Our team at FHE Health provides that help. Allow our professionals to help you with an intervention or to provide detox and substance use disorder treatment to your loved one. We work with patients with all types of drug addictions to provide hope. Contact us to learn more.
