Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: A major four month undercover narcotics investigation was concluded on Friday August 12, 2016 with the arrest of two men out of Charlotte by members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Unit, SERT Team members, Special Agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
In all, during the investigation, 600 grams of methamphetamine worth 240,000.00 dollars (street value) were seized by investigators. Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators gained information in May about large amounts of methamphetamine being trafficked into Iredell County. Surveillance operations were established and undercover purchases were soon made. During the investigation, further information was gained about the methamphetamine being brought in from Mecklenburg County. Additional purchases and surveillance operations led to several locations out of Iredell County.
On Friday August 12, two individuals, Jouse Abraham Robles-Barbosa and Ray Santaigo Luna both of Charlotte, were taken into custody at a gas station located at Exit 31 off I-77 South by members of the Narcotics Investigations Unit and SERT Team members.
A search of the vehicle located a sawed off shotgun, two semi-automatic pistols, 21.2 Grams of Cocaine (street value of 5250.00 dollars), 116 grams of hydroponic marijuana (street value of 2300.00 dollars) and 317 grams of methamphetamine (street value of 126,000.00 dollars), a police scanner and two ski masks and 9000.00 dollars in US Currency.
A computer search identified Ray Luna as a wanted person out of New York State for Narcotics Trafficking. An additional data search uncovered one of the two pistols was stolen. Both suspects were taken to the Iredell County Detention Center and were charged with the following charges:
Jouse Abraham Robles-Barbosa: Three counts of Level 1 Trafficking of Meth by Sale.
Three counts of Level 1 Trafficking of Meth by Possession.
Three counts of Level 1 Trafficking of Meth by Transport.
One count of Level 2 Trafficking of Meth by Sale.
One count of Level 2 Trafficking of Meth by Possession.
One count of Level 2 Trafficking of Meth by Transport.
Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine.
Possession with Intent to Sell Marijuana.
Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Ray Santaigo Luna: One Count of Level 2 Trafficking of Meth by Possession.
One Count of Level 2 Trafficking of Meth by Transport
Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine.
Possession with Intent to Sell Marijuana.
Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Being held conformation of a Fugitive Warrant from New York.
Jouse Abraham Robles-Barbosa was placed under a 1,500,000.00 dollar secured bond and Ray Santaigo Luna was placed under 750,000.00 dollars secured bond.