‘High-level’ undercover drug bust leads CMPD to 17 weapons, narcotics worth millions
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police seized 17 weapons and millions of dollars worth of heroin and cocaine in connection with the arrest of a man they deem a “high-level” drug trafficking suspect.
Jose Sandoval, 25, was charged with 17 felony drug and firearms offenses, CMPD officials say.
With his arrest, “you’ll really see a safer Charlotte,” said Major Mike Campagna, commander of the CMPD Special Investigations Bureau.
Police say they recovered 2.5 kilograms of heroin and nearly 1.5 kilograms of cocaine in the drug bust case.
CMPD has made larger drug seizures in its history — some in the hundreds of kilos — Campagna said, but “we focus more on the violent crime” related to the narcotics.
Four of the firearms seized by officers had been reported stolen, including three from cars, Campagna said. Last year alone, nearly 700 firearms were reported stolen from vehicles, according to CMPD.
Police on Wednesday again urged the public to not leave firearms in their cars. If that’s not possible, police said, find a lock box to secure the gun in the vehicle. And as always, lock your car, police said.
Campagna praised the vice and narcotics officers who worked the case for months, making undercover buys and putting themselves continually in harm’s way to protect the public, he said.
Vice detectives worked with special crime reduction units in several CMPD patrol divisions to execute search warrants that netted the weapons and narcotics, near the 7800 block of Lawyers Road and 7100 block of Albemarle Road.
In a statement posted on Facebook, CMPD said: “This case is an example of the daily effort our officers put into preventing and reducing violent crime related to the trafficking and distribution of drugs, and our community should feel safer knowing that this dangerous suspect has been taken off the streets of our community.”