Traffic stop in Catawba County leads to massive drug bust

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By Dave Faherty

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office seized dozens of pounds of marijuana, a massive amount of cocaine, pills and other drugs during a traffic stop on March 4.

Authorities pulled over Elizabeth Nicole Pearson, 31, along 11th Street Circle Northwest in Hickory.

Pearson was going 55 mph in a 35-mph zone, deputies said.

Investigators discovered:

  • 60 pounds of marijuana
  • 260 grams of cocaine
  • 47 oxycodone pills
  • 15 units of 80+% THC vape cartridges
  • THC wax
  • 9 grams of MDMA
  • 5 doses of ecstasy
  • $1,417 in cash

The street value of the drugs was estimated at nearly $200,000, deputies said.

Marijuana seized The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office seized dozens of pounds of weed, a massive amount of cocaine, pills and other drugs during a traffic stop on March 4.

Pearson was arrested and faces several drug charges. She is in jail under a $415,000 secured bond. Her first court appearance was Thursday.