Large quantities of drugs seized in Duplin
By Nelson Bland
Published in News on January 8, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/NELSON BLAND
Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace, left, and DICE Lt. Chris Smith look over 15 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $25,000, that was seized in a traffic stop in which two Duplin County men were arrested on numerous charges.
KENANSVILLE -- As the result of two Duplin County residents being arrested on meth charges by Jacksonville police in neighboring Onslow County, Duplin County deputies arrested the same two persons and a third individual and seized a meth lab in the Pinhook area of southeastern Duplin County, Wallace said.
Shelby Raven Sholar, 19, and Justin Ralph Griffin, 21, both of 209 Lawton Road, Wallace, were arrested on Dec. 24 by Duplin deputies. Sholar and Griffin each were charged with three counts of possession/distribution of meth precursor, manufacture of methamphetamine and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
Griffin was placed under $405,000 bond and Ms. Sholar's bond was set at $250,000 on the Duplin County charges.
After deputies found meth drug-making materials at the couple's residence, a third resident at the same address, Zacchary Paul Gilbert, 17, was booked on Dec. 23 on two counts of possession/distribution of a meth precursor and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance. He was jailed under a $100,000 bond.
Wallace said that after Duplin County deputies received information from Jacksonville Police they went to the residence where they found a meth lab.
"There could be some additional charges in these cases because there was a large amount of 'meth oil' at the scene,' Wallace noted.
He said meth oil is part of a process in making methamphetamine.
In a separate incident, two men were booked on marijuana charges and a quantity of marijuana was seized following a traffic stop near Rose Hill on Dec. 29, Wallace said.
Charged were Pedro Roman Cruz, 19, 130 West Ridge St., Rose Hill and Ronald Godoy, 18, 1930 Willard Railroad St., Lot 11, Wallace. Each was booked on three counts of trafficking in marijuana, conspiring to traffic in marijuana, maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver, felony possession of marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, possession of stolen goods (a small fireproof safe and a .357 revolver), resisting a public officer and possession of drug paraphernalia,
Godoy was placed under bonds totaling $255,000 bond and Cruz was jailed under a $100,000 bond.
Wallace said the arrests came after Duplin Interstate Criminal Enforcement officer Lt. Chris Smith stopped the vehicle near Rose Hill after receiving information there could be a "large amount" of marijuana in the vehicle.
Deputies searched the vehicle, a 2002 Nissan Altima that was confiscated, Wallace said. He said officers found 15 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $25, 000, and a .357 handgun in the car.
"This was a good lick," Wallace said. "The arrests were a result of the cooperative effort of our drug task force with the SBI (State Bureau of Investigation)."