Onslow County Sheriff's Office seizes five pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill thousands

The lives of thousands of Onslow County residents have now been saved with the seizure of about five pounds of fentanyl.

The Onslow County Sheriff's Office responded to a call for a domestic-related incident at Eider Loop Road in Jacksonville on Sept. 20, according to a recent news release. Upon executing a search warrant, investigators located 2.5 kilos of fentanyl, over 40 pounds of marijuana, two rifles, three handguns and about $10,000.

OCSO Chief Deputy Colonel Chris Thomas said in an email that the amount of fentanyl seized could have easily killed thousands of Onslow County residents, though it's hard to estimate as it depends on the dosage an individual would use and how it is cut. He added a dosage unit is about .01 grams and a kilogram has 1,000 grams.

"This is one of the largest single seizures of fentanyl we made here in Onslow," Thomas said. "It is not uncommon to seize ounces but this amount is unusual. The leading majority of overdoses we have here in Onslow are from fentanyl. It is often sold as heroin or even pressed into pill form to conceal what it really is. Often the user does not know it is not heroin or some other opioid when they take it."

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The release said narcotics detectives also seized a 2012 Audi and issued a freeze and search warrant of the suspect's bank account, which resulted in the seizure of an additional $10,000.

Daquan Tyrone Wainwright, 25, was arrested and charged with 12 counts of trafficking opium or heroin, two counts of trafficking marijuana, one count of possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver heroin, one count of possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, one count of manufacture cocaine, one count manufacture marijuana, two counts of conspire to sell or deliver heroin, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by felon and possession of drug paraphernalia, the release said.

He is currently in the Onslow County Detention Center under a $1,700,000 secured bond.

The release added London Sheryl Kebe, 18, was charged with trafficking opium or heroin, trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver controlled substances, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture schedule II controlled substance. She is currently in the Onslow County Detention Center under a $258,000 secured bond.

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This was not the only recent arrest for and seizure of fentanyl in Onslow County, though.

OCSO recently conducted a joint operation with Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the FBI on an individual suspected of trafficking illegal narcotics, another recent release from the office said.

On Oct. 7, investigators attempted a traffic stop on Andrew Scott Arrowwood. Arrowwood fled the scene and after a chase ensued, he was located and detained on Hubert Boulevard in Hubert. The release said during the search of his vehicle, 43 grams of fentanyl were located and seized, along with marijuana and crystal meth that Arrowwood had thrown out of the vehicle during the chase.

The release said a subsequent search warrant was obtained and conducted at Arrowwood's residence on Dragonfly Lane in Hubert, where additional suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and a firearm were located and seized.

Thomas said fentanyl is a raising issue all around the country.

"Onslow is no exception to that," Thomas said. "It has grown tremendously over the past two years and with little to slow the flow across the southern board, it continues to increase."

Arrowwood was arrested and charged with trafficking opioids by possession, trafficking opioids by transport, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver schedule I controlled substance, manufacture schedule I controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony flee to elude with motor vehicle and resist/obstruct/delay law enforcement official, the release said.

He was transported to the Onslow County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond and his first court appearance occurred on Oct. 10.

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information that is deemed of value or assistance to law enforcement. Information can also be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and never have to reveal their identity.

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Onslow County sheriff seizes five pounds of fentanyl, makes arrests