Lincoln Co. police arrest dozens in overnight drug raid

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Police in Lincoln County arrested dozens of people in an overnight raid.  Channel 9 was with investigators as they went from house-to-house rounding up suspects.

Deputies were still bringing the drug suspects in Wednesday morning to be booked under the operation they are calling Early Christmas.

One of the suspects was in court Wednesday morning on another case when officers arrested her on drug charges.

Some of the suspects were taken into custody before dawn.

Channel 9 rode with officers as they went looking for 59 suspects wanted on 209 felony drug charges.

Officers said they have arrested about 40 of them.

The charges are for everything from selling prescription pills to selling heroin.

"They are all brought in together.  They are all sitting down there in the magistrate's office together.  They can look around and it sends a message to them that we will not tolerate their behavior," said Lincolnton Police Lt. Brian Greene.

Undercover officers said they started buying drugs from the suspects at about this time last year.

Police said they are also looking for store clerks and a manager wanted for selling bath salts.

Channel 9 is talking to police about their concerns over bath salts.

We will have that full story starting at 5 p.m.

WSOC