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Drug sting leads to dozens of arrests, drug seizures in Selma

Online Niel October 30, 2024

SELMA, NC (WTVD) — A major operation in Johnston County that lasted 10 months took dozens of suspected drug dealers off the street.

Selma police said “Operation Junk Candy” resulted in 25 arrests Tuesday and SPD seized large quantities of meth, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and more. The sting is one of the largest in Selma’s history.

“I think it’s very important that our streets are safe and our neighborhoods are safe,” said Vanessa Lopez, a Selma resident and mother of five.

It makes you feel like you’re doing something great for your community, great for the city, and you’re getting bad stuff off the streets.

– Sgt. Justin Vause, Selma Police Department.

Vanessa’s children range in age from 9 to 20, and she said that means a fair share of concern about their safety and what’s on the street.

“They’re all in the age range that I would think about, you know, their friendships and the people they hang out with,” she said. “And they want to ride their bikes around the neighborhood and just stuff like that.”

As part of the sting, which used undercover drug buys in Selma for 10 months, police rounded up drugs and suspected drug dealers at various locations, including the Quality Inn and homes on Wood Street and Cypress Court.

“It makes you feel like you’re doing something great for your community, great for the city, and you’re getting bad stuff off the streets,” said Sgt. Justin Vause with Selma PD.

City Mayor Byron McAllister said he was proud of the work being done to clean up Selma’s streets.

“This is a blessing for this community, especially a community that’s right next to (Interstate) 95 that sees the effects of drugs up close and personal every day,” McAllister said.

McAllister said as a father of four, he takes comfort in knowing the work that is being done to combat drug-related crime.

“You can go to bed a lot easier knowing that there’s always someone watching your back in the town of Selma,” he said.

Selma PD identified 27 targets as part of Operation Tainted Candy and are still searching for two suspects in the sting. Charges range from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute, to drug trafficking, and more.