Cruz Jaimes’ bail was set at $5 million. Bail for the other five men was set at $1 million each.Cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1
The men were arrested after a traffic stop just off N.C. 211 in eastern Bladen County near the Columbus County line about 5 p.m. Thursday. They are:Lorenzo Cruz Jaimes, 32, of 52 Charles Ave., Hallsboro Fredy Jamies Cruz, 24, of 48 Charles Ave., Hallsboro Adolfo James, 31, of 48 Charles Ave., Hallsboro Saul Calvillo Rojas, 24, no address available Genaro Lara, 30, no address available
Juan Carlos Mendoza, 20, of Austin, TexasCruz Jaimes is charged with manufacturing 400 grams or more of cocaine. He also is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.
Cruz Jaimes’ bail was set at $5 million. Bail for the other five men was set at $1 million each.Cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1million was confiscated and six men were arrested Thursday, Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten said.Sheriff’s investigators in Bladen and New Hanover counties also were involved in the case that included the recovery of 10 kilograms of cocaine near Hallsboro after the six arrests in Bladen County.“We’re just glad to get this off the street,” Batten said of the drug seizure, one of the largest ever in Columbus or Bladen counties.
“We’ve hurt a lot of people in the pockets; we’ve hurt a lot of people on the street who thought they were going to have access to this on the street this holiday weekend.”Calvillo is charged with eight drug related crimes, the other four men with four each. Calvillo is charged with trafficking cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell, and delivery, and with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.
Cruz Jaimes, James, Calvillo, Lara and Mendoza are each charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.All but Mendoza are being held in the Bladen County Jail. Mendoza is being held in the Columbus County Detention Center because the Bladen jail was full, Sheriff Steve Bunn said.
New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said his investigators have been chasing leads involving drug distribution in Bladen County for a few weeks.When the New Hanover drug agents learned Thursday that a shipment of cocaine would be delivered in Bladen County, they notified drug officers at the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers stopped a 1999 Dodge Durango and a 1994 Chevrolet King Cab with six men inside the two vehicles, Bladen County Sheriff Steve Bunn said. He was not sure which vehicle contained which men, but said a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine was found in the Durango.Bladen officers seized the drugs, the vehicles and $2,962 in cash.Drug enforcement officers in Columbus County “conducted surveillance” at 18 Roberts Lane and 52 Charles Ave. near Hallsboro, then obtained search warrants for the two houses and property.Charles Avenue and Roberts Lane are small, private drives in an area “matted with mobile homes” just off of Pameter Road in Hallsboro, Batten said.
Inside the Roberts Lane home drug officers found 10 kilograms of cocaine, Batten said. Officers seized the drugs, two SKS assault rifles and three handguns.
Investigators seized vehicles and other materials from the Charles Avenue property they believe were purchased with drug proceeds, Batten said. Seized items include a 2005 Cadillac Escalade, a Ford Escort, a John Deere tractor with loader, a Frontier mower, a cement mixer, hole digger and all-terrain vehicles.
Juan Carlos Mendoza, 20, of Austin, TexasCruz Jaimes is charged with manufacturing 400 grams or more of cocaine. He also is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.
Cruz Jaimes’ bail was set at $5 million. Bail for the other five men was set at $1 million each.Cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1million was confiscated and six men were arrested Thursday, Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten said.Sheriff’s investigators in Bladen and New Hanover counties also were involved in the case that included the recovery of 10 kilograms of cocaine near Hallsboro after the six arrests in Bladen County.“We’re just glad to get this off the street,” Batten said of the drug seizure, one of the largest ever in Columbus or Bladen counties.
“We’ve hurt a lot of people in the pockets; we’ve hurt a lot of people on the street who thought they were going to have access to this on the street this holiday weekend.”Calvillo is charged with eight drug related crimes, the other four men with four each. Calvillo is charged with trafficking cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell, and delivery, and with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.
Cruz Jaimes, James, Calvillo, Lara and Mendoza are each charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine by manufacture, possession, sell and deliver.All but Mendoza are being held in the Bladen County Jail. Mendoza is being held in the Columbus County Detention Center because the Bladen jail was full, Sheriff Steve Bunn said.New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said his investigators have been chasing leads involving drug distribution in Bladen County for a few weeks.When the New Hanover drug agents learned Thursday that a shipment of cocaine would be delivered in Bladen County, they notified drug officers at the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers stopped a 1999 Dodge Durango and a 1994 Chevrolet King Cab with six men inside the two vehicles, Bladen County Sheriff Steve Bunn said. He was not sure which vehicle contained which men, but said a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine was found in the Durango.Bladen officers seized the drugs, the vehicles and $2,962 in cash.Drug enforcement officers in Columbus County “conducted surveillance” at 18 Roberts Lane and 52 Charles Ave. near Hallsboro, then obtained search warrants for the two houses and property.Charles Avenue and Roberts Lane are small, private drives in an area “matted with mobile homes” just off of Pameter Road in Hallsboro, Batten said.
Inside the Roberts Lane home drug officers found 10 kilograms of cocaine, Batten said. Officers seized the drugs, two SKS assault rifles and three handguns.
Investigators seized vehicles and other materials from the Charles Avenue property they believe were purchased with drug proceeds, Batten said. Seized items include a 2005 Cadillac Escalade, a Ford Escort, a John Deere tractor with loader, a Frontier mower, a cement mixer, hole digger and all-terrain vehicles.
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