Whiteville, NC – A North Carolina drug raid conducted by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office has led to the seizure of illegal narcotics, multiple firearms, and the arrest of an unregistered sex offender near Whiteville. In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 29th, the Vice-Narcotics Unit executed a high-risk search warrant on Fruit Ridge Road, concluding a weeks-long investigation into suspected drug trafficking at the residence.
Sheriff Bill Rogers personally assembled members of the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Division, Tactical Unit, K9 Deputies, and Command Staff for a 5:00 a.m. operational briefing. During the search, K9 Gunny was deployed inside the residence and successfully alerted investigators to a hidden compartment where a large quantity of illegal narcotics was found.
Further search of the property uncovered multiple firearms, including one that had been reported stolen. Investigators also identified one of the individuals at the residence as a registered sex offender who had failed to update his address.
The following individuals were taken into custody:
AUGUSTUS HUGGINS, of Whiteville, NC, was charged with:
• Trafficking in Methamphetamine
• Trafficking in MDMA
• Trafficking in Opium or Heroin (6 counts)
• Trafficking in Cocaine
• Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule III Controlled Substance
• Maintaining a Dwelling for Narcotics Sales
• Alter/Destroy Serial Number of a Firearm
• Failure to Report New Address of a Sex Offender
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts)
• Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• (2) Failure to Appear on Felony Charges
MICHAEL LESEL BULLOCK was charged with:
• Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substances
• Possession of Stolen Firearm
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