| The Burke County Narcotics Task Force
was formed in July of 1990 as the result of a two-year federal grant. The
Morganton Department of Public Safety applied for the grant with the goal to
combine narcotics investigators from each Burke County law enforcement agency
under the umbrella of a drug task force. This approach would enable law
enforcement to have a more united effort in curbing drug problems in Burke
County, since all reports concerning dealers and illegal trafficking would be
funneled to only one agency. |
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| Marijuana packaged for sale
located by BCNTF during a search |
Counterfeit money, marijuana,
and weapon seized during a search |
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| The Task
Force has proven very successful in their existence and has actually been used
as a model unit by other counties wishing to train new narcotics investigators.
Since their inception in 1990 to January, 2005, approximately $42,672,277.00
worth of illegal drugs has been confiscated by investigators, and $1,390,738.00
in U.S. currency has been seized. In addition, 269 vehicles and 402 weapons
have been seized. The success of this highly trained unit has resulted in
numerous career criminals being taken off of the streets with long prison
stretches. |
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| One pound of
crystal meth and weapons located during a search |
Weapons and
marijuana seized during a search |
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| Books
of matches located at a meth lab |
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| The Task Force is governed a Board of
Directors consisting of Sheriff John McDevitt and Burke County Manager Ron
Lewis; Morganton Department of Public Safety Chief Mark Tolbert and City
Manager Sally Sandy; Valdese Police Chief John Suttle and Town Manager Jeff
Morse (current chairman); and Drexel Police Chief Mike Swink and Town Manager
Matt Settlemyre. |
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| In 1999, the McDowell County
Sheriff's Office joined forces with the Burke County Narcotics Task Force. All
narcotics investigators have sworn jurisdictional powers in both counties,
thereby strengthening our war against drugs. |
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| In many
instances, the North
Carolina Department of Revenue places an excise tax, called the
Unauthorized Substance Tax", on alleged drug dealers. The tax is due by any
individual who possesses an unauthorized substance upon which the tax has not
been paid, as evidenced by a stamp. |
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| The
Department of Revenue periodically holds an
auction and sells the property of those who fail to pay the
unauthorized substance tax. |
| Seventy-five percent of the money collected is returned to the
state or local law enforcement agency whose investigation led to the
assessment. The remaining twenty-five percent of the money collected is
credited to the North |
NC
State Bureau of Investigation and BCNTF personnel dismantle a meth lab |
| Carolina General Fund. |
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| To make a report
concerning illegal drug activity, call the Burke County Narcotics Task Force at
(828) 430-4221, or by e-mail at bcntf@burkesheriff.org. |
