By Jesse Wood
April 15, 2013. Last week, a Banner Elk Man was arrested in an undercover operation that resulted in the largest heroin bust in Avery County, according to Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye.
Gregory Scott Levy of 2989 Tynecastle Highway was arrested on April 8 and charged with intent to sell or distribute heroin, conspiracy to sell heroin, maintaining a dwelling to sell heroin and the possession of drug paraphernalia.
Frye said the amount of heroin seized was 8 to 10 bindles, which is a “little bitty one-shot deal,” where it is heated with water and shot into the veins. He said the amount was about 10 days worth of heroin, which doesn’t exactly sound like a record-breaking bust.
“We don’t see heroin a lot,” Frye said.
Assisting the Avery County Sheriff’s Office was its Municipal Drug Task Force division and the Sugar Mountain Police Department. After the undercover operation, the Special Response Team, consisting of numerous law enforcement agencies in Avery County, executed a search warrant, whereby Levy was arrested, according to a press release.
Monies from the undercover drug deal were also recovered.
“It is a shame that heroin has made it into Avery County. I am sure there has been some here in the past but it seems to be getting more prevalent,” said Officer Shane Vance with the Municipal Drug Task Force. “It is a very nasty drug that has a high addiction rate. It is one of those drugs a person tries one time and dies on the spot. If the person does not die, they are most likely going to be hooked for life. It is good that all agencies work well together here in Avery County to combat this drug before it gets worse.
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