Fifteen people indicted in drug roundup involving heroin, meth

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities announced that 15 people have been indicted after a federal drug investigation in Rowan County.

At held a news conference Monday morning, officials said the offenders were accused of drug crimes including trafficking and manufacturing drugs such as heroin and meth.

Investigators said this is part of a larger investigation that started last year, when officials arrested more than 30 people. They said the group was bringing meth and heroin to Rowan County from Mexico.

“Drug trafficking of this sort will not be tolerated in any neighborhood, any inch of Rowan County-Salisbury or the surrounding areas in the Middle District of North Carolina,” Matthew Martin, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, said.

Drug problems created a large issue in the county last year, regarding drug overdose calls.

Last summer, paramedics reported 284 calls for overdoses, which was a 94 percent increase over the year before.

Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten said things have gotten better.

"I think those numbers would show they're down significantly in this county,” Auten said.

Authorities seized about 41 kilos of meth from the streets during this operation.  That's more than 90 pounds.

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