In the Triad, a guy from Guilford County has been charged with twelve counts pertaining to drug trafficking.
Following the execution of search warrants in Brown Summit by the recently established Guilford County Narcotics Task Force, Michael Blake Turner, 39, was taken into custody. The items seized included 36 kilograms of cocaine, 44,000 grams of marijuana, 91 grams of ecstasy, 1700 grams of fentanyl, 16 firearms (four of which were reported stolen), and a substantial quantity of cash.
“It is really a drop in the bucket of what this task force has accomplished over the last 5 months,” said Chief John Thompson from the Greensboro Police Department.
To remove more drugs off the streets, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, the Greensboro Police Department, and state authorities collaborated.
“Specifically targeting those involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of illegal narcotics in the triad,” said Sheriff Danny Rogers from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
Although the task team has been collaborating for several months, it just formally debuted two weeks ago. They had consumed almost a thousand pounds of narcotics since January. More than $1 million in cash, 102 firearms, 32 pounds of meth, 22 pounds of fentanyl and heroin, 444 pounds of marijuana, 657 pounds of cocaine, one pound of ecstasy pills, and 32 pounds of meth have all been found.
“In Greensboro, Guilford County, we are seeing a 13 percent reduction in our violent crime, it is a direct correlation to these seizures the task force is making and the weapons they are taking off the street,” Chief Thompson said.
According to Chief Thompson, the city has seen a 37% decrease in overdose deaths. “It is about protecting lives, it’s about restoring safety in our neighborhoods and holding the most dangerous offenders accountable,” Chief Thompson added.
- In relation to the bust, Turner was accused of the following:
- Two counts of felony trafficking fentanyl
- Two counts of felony trafficking cocaine
- Two counts of felony trafficking marijuana
- Two counts of felony trafficking MDMA
- Felony possession of a stolen firearm
- Felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Felony maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for controlled substances
Currently, Turner is being held on a $3 million bond at the Guilford County jail. Next month, he is anticipated to appear in court again.
