JONESVILLE, Va. — Twenty-six people have been arrested and 13 more are charged with a total of 90 counts of drug distribution as part of drug raids conducted by Operation STAND (Standing Together Against Narcotic Drugs) in Lee County on Friday.
Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons reported that on Friday officers from his department, assisted by the Southwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force and the Town of Jonesville executed the second phase of operation STAND.
Officers met at the courthouse at 7 a.m. to go out and arrest the 26 individuals charged with a total of 90 counts of drug distribution. STAND II is the continuation of a drug roundup in January which netted 111 drug arrested. There are still 13 indictments to be executed, Parsons said.
Parsons said many of Friday’s arrests resulted from information obtained during the January operation and acted upon by the sheriff’s department. Nearly all are the result of hand-to-hand recorded buys.
Parson said two officers from his department are sworn in as Virginia State Police officers which gives his department access to state money for making controlled buys.
All of the 39 indictments served Friday were prepared and presented at the last grand jury by Lee County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shawn Hines, according to Parsons.
“I have a fine team of officers who are keeping the heat turned up on drug dealers,” Parsons said. “I am very proud of the work they do each day to make our county a better and safer place to live.”
James-Clifton Spires is senior staff writer for the Daily News. His e-mail address is jcspires@middlesborodailynews.com.
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