WHITEVILLE — A Columbus County man was arrested Tuesday and charged with numerous drug violations after a two-month undercover operation by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit.
According to Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker, narcotics deputies made a number of controlled buys prior to the arrest.
Deputies with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office arrested Curtis Devon Ballard, 33, of Whiteville at his residence and charged with two counts of sell/deliver marijuana; sell/deliver a Schedule II (cocaine) controlled substance; two counts of possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana; possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver a Schedule II (cocaine) controlled substance; two counts of manufacture marijuana; manufacture a Schedule II (cocaine) controlled substance; two counts of maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of keeping/selling controlled substances.
In addition to those charges, the District Attorney’s Office intends to present an indictment to the grand jury against Ballard as a habitual felon.
He was booked into the Columbus County Detention Center under a secured $125,000 bond.
“The working relationship between my office and Columbus County Sheriff’s Office has proven invaluable,” said McVicker. “Mr. Ballard is but one example of a drug dealer who routinely crossed county lines to sell his drugs. Now he is in jail and his operation has been shut down thanks to the joint efforts of the two offices.”