Caldwell County finds 20 pounds of marijuana in package shipped to Lenoir

In both cases a person of interest has been identified, but charges have not been filed as of Thursday, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Aaron Barlowe said.

Marijuana shipment intercepted

On Aug. 27, the sheriff’s office seized a shipped package containing 20 pounds of marijuana. The package was sent from California to a residence on Marked Trail Court in Lenoir, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The sheriff’s office searched the package’s intended destination. Inside the residence, deputies found four guns, two more pounds of marijuana and approximately 33 pounds of psilocybin edibles, the sheriff’s office said. Psilocybin is a chemical found in psychedelic mushrooms.

The investigation is ongoing.

Barlowe said charges are pending lab results on the seized marijuana.

“Once we have the testing then we will be turning the case over to the district attorney’s office for prosecution,” Barlowe said. “If one of the products have a THC content of .03 or less it is considered a legal from of cannabis but if the content is .04 or higher it is considered illegal.”

Barlowe said the sheriff’s office has to use a private lab to test the marijuana because the N.C. State Crime Lab does not have the capability to do the testing.

The marijuana and psilocybin edibles have a total street value of $473,510, according to North Carolina drug guidelines, the sheriff’s office said.

“This is one of the largest seizures in this county. These edibles are marketed specifically to our younger citizens as candy, however when ingested they can cause dangerous mind-altering effects such as disorientation, depression, panic attacks and hallucinations,” Caldwell County Sheriff Kevin H. Bean said. “These are extremely dangerous to the community, and I am pleased that these were kept off our streets.”

Meth seized from home

On Aug. 31, the sheriff’s office was investigating the distribution of methamphetamine in Caldwell County. During the investigation, more than a half-pound of methamphetamine and nine firearms were found at a home in Caldwell County, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Barlowe said the person of interest in this case is cooperating with the sheriff’s office. Barlowe said charges will come in an indictment unless the person stops cooperating with law enforcement.

The sheriff’s office did not say where the home was located in Caldwell County.

“We are continuing to be aggressive on our drug campaign,” Bean said in the release. “This investigation went according to plan and a big seizure was made.”