Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: In the early morning hours of Friday April 1, 2016 members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office fanned out across Iredell County from Harmony to Mooresville in what is being called “Operation No Fooling”. All of the suspects targeted today sold drugs directly to undercover investigators with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Unit or were in possession of drugs and have a significant criminal history.

The majority of suspects have charges relating to either, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Methamphetamine or Prescription Medications.

Sheriff Campbell said, “Deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office do their best to target drug dealers and repeat offenders and others who prey on our citizens”. If we successfully remove the drug dealers and repeat offenders crime goes down. These people arrested today are not your casual drug user, make no doubt it, these are drug dealers and repeat offenders”.

A recent published study showed heroin related deaths in North Carolina for 2014 were approximately 16 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to 9 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2002. Another study revealed in over half of the accidental prescription drug deaths in North Carolina for 2010, the prescription had been filled within 60 days of the date of death.

Sheriff Campbell also stated, drug dealers and repeat criminals will continue to be at the core of our enforcement efforts. These people bring misery and crime to our community and cause untold grief to families in our county.

Today was just another step in the ongoing battle to keep our schools, neighborhoods and county safe. Future enforcement actions similar to this operation are already in the planning stages. Sheriff Campbell said,” If you sell drugs in Iredell County and were not arrested today, your day is coming.”