Caroline County, VA. (WTVR)--Adapt and overcome: that's the stated mission of undercover agents in Central Virginia throughout the year to stay ahead of the drug game.
Recently the Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney's office signed off on 94 drug indictments, and early Thursday morning the clean up began.
A briefing brought agents from Caroline, Westmoreland and King George counties, as well as NCIS agents and state police their marching orders: "Indictments are for prescription pills, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy," said the undercover NCID officer in charge.
Then came the execution of the plan: "He always carries a gun so be careful with him."
A “rise and shine” raid found suspect Edward "Booby" Childs just where a tri-county task force wanted him: in bed, unaware and willing to share unsolicited information “I smoke weed man, I don't sell it," Childs said.
“We want to catch them before they start their day," said Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa.
Task force members scattered throughout Caroline County Thursday to round up suspected dealers accused of pushing their poison to undercover agents within the past few months. Lippa says Caroline, like other surrounding counties, has been seeing a spike in prescription pill crimes.
“Forgery of the prescription, trading off pills,” he said.
He also says there’s been a resurgence of heroin. "There's more heroin out there so it's cheaper to get than crack right now where the supply is low," Lippa said.
Deputies rounded up alleged dealers at their homes, including one suspect, who was already at work. Jesse Beverly was wanted for dealing marijuana and suddenly realized he had a supersized problem.
Lippa wants to send the message of "zero tolerance" that will be heard loud and clear. He promised that people selling drugs in Caroline, would pay with their freedom. "If you are selling, we know who you are, and we are coming to get you," Lippa said.
23 out of 30 suspects were arrested without incident.
Lippa declared the raid a success and said it depended on tips from the community and the hard work of undercover agents risking their lives. He said they were making sure drugs don't end up in your children’s hands.
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Adapt and overcome: that's the stated mission of undercover agents in Central Virginia throughout the year to stay ahead of the drug game.
Recently the Caroline Commonwealth’s Attorney's office signed off on 94 drug indictments, and early Thursday morning the clean up began.
A briefing brought agents from Caroline, Westmoreland and King George counties, as well as NCIS agents and state police their marching orders: "Indictments are for prescription pills, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy," said the undercover NCID officer in charge.
Then came the execution of the plan: "He always carries a gun so be careful with him."
A “rise and shine” raid found suspect Edward "Booby" Childs just where a tri-county task force wanted him: in bed, unaware and willing to share unsolicited information “I smoke weed man, I don't sell it," Childs said.
“We want to catch them before they start their day," said Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa.
Task force members scattered throughout Caroline County Thursday to round up suspected dealers accused of pushing their poison to undercover agents within the past few months. Lippa says Caroline, like other surrounding counties, has been seeing a spike in prescription pill crimes.
“Forgery of the prescription, trading off pills,” he said.
He also says there’s been a resurgence of heroin. "There's more heroin out there so it's cheaper to get than crack right now where the supply is low," Lippa said.
Deputies rounded up alleged dealers at their homes, including one suspect, who was already at work. Jesse Beverly was wanted for dealing marijuana and suddenly realized he had a supersized problem.
Lippa wants to send the message of "zero tolerance" that will be heard loud and clear. He promised that people selling drugs in Caroline, would pay with their freedom. "If you are selling, we know who you are, and we are coming to get you," Lippa said.
23 out of 30 suspects were arrested without incident.
Lippa declared the raid a success and said it depended on tips from the community and the hard work of undercover agents risking their lives. He said they were making sure drugs don't end up in your children’s hands.
