‘Take Back North Carolina’ initiative to fight drug trafficking announced

ELIZABETH CITY, NC (WFMY) — Law enforcement at local, state and federal levels are coming together to fight violent criminals and drug trafficking in North Carolina.

Officials say those crimes have been plaguing the eastern part of the state. The state Bureau of Investigation estimates there are three drug overdose deaths a day, and opioid-related deaths in eastern North Carolina are higher than the rest of the state.

The US Attorney of Eastern North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., said they will not stand back and let crime rates and drug addictions continue to rise.

“We will not allow the progress over the past two decades to slip through our fingers,” Higdon said on Wednesday. “We will not cede one block or one street corner to thugs or those peddling drugs.”

Law enforcement said heroin use is growing across the region, and that officers are seizing more fentanyl.

Work is already underway, as officials are re-assigning resources and targeting the worst offenders.

Prosecutors have been assigned to six geographic areas across Eastern North Carolina to maximize success.