CCSO: Raid leads to drug and gun seizure; arrest of unregistered sex offender

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two men face multiple charges, after the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office searched a property just outside the Whiteville city limits on Thursday.

The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said members of the Vice-Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant early in the morning, as they were concluding a weeks-long investigation into suspected drug trafficking at a home on Fruit Ridge Road.

During the search, K9 Gunny alerted investigators to a hidden compartment with a large quantity of illegal narcotics.

CCSO said 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.

Augusta Huggins, 34 of Whiteville, is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in MDMA, six counts of trafficking in opium or heroin, 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, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of failure to appear on felony charges.

Michael Lesel Bullock, 74 of Whiteville, is charged with maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and possession of a stolen firearm.