Rhonda Griffin, Editor

A joint investigation led to six arrests in Bladen County’s largest cocaine seizure ever on Thursday near Council. The drugs had a street value of more than $1 million.

The investigation involving law enforcement from Bladen, New Hanover and Columbus counties led them to Elwell Ferry Road near Hwy. 211, where officers stopped two vehicles, intercepting a cocaine delivery. During the search of the vehicles, deputies found a kilo of cocaine, Bladen County Sheriff Steve Bunn said Friday.

Information led them to a home at 52 Charles Ave., in Hallsboro, along with another at 18 Roberts Lane, which is on the same corner as the Charles Avenue home, Bunn said. In the bust, 10 more kilos of cocaine was found at the residence.

Lorenzo Cruz Jaimes, 32, of the Hallsboro address, is being held in Bladen County Jail on a $5 million bond, facing charges of conspire to traffic cocaine by manufacture; conspire to traffic cocaine by possession; conspire to traffic cocaine by sell; and conspire to traffic cocaine by deliver.

Also in Bladen County Jail on a $1 million bond each are Fredy Jaimes Cruz, 24; Addlfo Jaimes, 31; and Genaro Lara, 30. All three were charged with the same charges as Lorenzo Jaimes.

Saul Calvillo Rojas, 24, also on a $1 million bond in Bladen County Jail, faces those charges as well as trafficking in cocaine by manufacture; trafficking in cocaine by possession; trafficking in cocaine by sell; and trafficking in cocaine by deliver.

Juan Carlos Mendoza, 20, is being held in Columbus County Jail, also on a $1 million bond, for the same charges as Lorenzo Jaimes as well.

A total of 11 kilos of cocaine, $3,000 in cash, four vehicles, three hand guns, two assault rifles, a farm tractor and several ATVs were seized during the searches, Bunn said. There was no conflict or injury during the bust, Bunn said.

Investigators are still trying to determine the immigration status of the six arrested, he added.

Speeding leads to drug bust

A Tar Heel woman was arrested on several charges after she was pulled for speeding on Friday morning.

Tyaunka Sholonda Murphy, 31, of 1045 Spring Branch Road, was stopped by Sgt. Mitchell Norris of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department for driving 65 mph in a 55 mph zone, Bunn said. When the officer approached the woman’s car, he smelled marijuana, so a vehicle search was conducted.

During the search, three grams of cocaine, 26 grams of marijuana, two hand guns and $578 in cash was seized.

Murphy was booked in Bladen County Jail on charges of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, manufacturing cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and speeding.