UNCW students involved in two serious drug busts

On Wednesday night, two UNCW students were among four men arrested in a cocaine trafficking bust at the Reserve Apartments on Darlington Avenue.

That same day, UNCW students Christopher Misenheimer and Jonathan Parker were among four people arrested in a heroin bust in a condo just a stone's throw from campus.

Rebecca Caldwell, who runs the substance abuse program at UNCW said, "I've communicated with the sheriff's department since the arrests were made and will continue to communicate."

David Donaldson, the UNCW chief of police said drug violations on campus were up in 2008 over 2007, but they were mostly minor infractions involving marijuana.

Donaldson said these latest arrests off campus mirror what's happening in New Hanover County rather than highlight a problem at UNCW. "We're very fortunate in this community to have law enforcement agencies that take a very aggressive approach to drug violations and a prosecutor's office that takes a similar approach."

Heroin seizures were up dramatically in New Hanover County in 2008, and 2009 is off to a similar start with yesterday's 170 bags.

"One reason we might have a special eye on drugs like heroin and cocaine is that adolescents are using more prescription drugs. They're heavy opiates that could... Lead to serious street drugs like heroin or cocaine," said Caldwell.

She said drugs like Oxycontin and Darvocet fall into that group. Meantime detectives say more arrests could be coming in the heroin ring.