ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — From thousands of miles away, drug cartels are pulling the strings and pumping dangerous drugs into our local communities.
Investigators in Rowan County are part of a national focus on fighting back. Tuesday, they are being recognized for their efforts.
Sheriff Kevin Auten said in more than 30 years working in Rowan County, he has never seen so many federal investigators working in his jurisdiction.
"We can count on them and they can count on us," Auten said.
The Sheriff's Deputy Chief David Ramsey received an award Tuesday from the United States Attorney's Office for his help busting gangs.
But, it also reveals how local agencies and federal investigators are fighting cartels on local streets.
"It's not the same as working up a search warrant for grabbing someone off the sidewalk sale and crack. These are totally different cases," Auten said.
Investigators said they have successfully indicted 60 people in federal court. Most of these people were part of MS-13, The United Blood Nation, or Aryan Brotherhood Gangs.
They are often somehow linked to the violence that spills out into the Salisbury community.
Detectives said they are often the supply line for Mexican drug cartels.
"They've got distribution places like Food Lion and Walmart. I mean, they have networks and they're good at it," Auten said.
TASK Force agents recently raided an apartment on Matika Drive and discovered it was a distribution center for meth and other drugs.
Resident Charles Foutz lives down the street from the complex.
"I heard tales about the unit down the street being a meth lab," Foutz said. "If they can put a stop to it or find out where the trouble is coming from, that would be really great."
The sheriff told Channel 9's Blaine Tolison he and his federal partners are not backing down.
"We know our work is not done, we know we still have a lot to do," Auten said.
A year ago, Channel 9 reported the Attorney General would ramp up anti-gang work. This includes local detectives and federal prosecutors working together.
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