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Police find heroin, meth, pot, guns, body armor following anonymous tip

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An anonymous tip led to the arrest of a man who police said was trafficking illicit drugs in Charlotte.

On April 12, detectives were tipped off that 37-year-old Refugio Najir Gutierrez Espinoza was selling drugs on South Tryon Street.

Investigators set up surveillance that led to a traffic stop in which Espinoza was arrested on traffic-related charges.

Police then obtained search warrants at a public storage facility in the 9400 block of South Tryon Street and found body armor, night vision goggles, firearms, and a variety of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to officials.

Authorities believe Espinoza was living in a storage unit.

Detectives told Channel 9 that approximately 1,580 grams of marijuana, 370 grams of THC oil, 2,515 grams of synthetic marijuana, 2,950 grams of methamphetamine, 7 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and 25 units of prescription medication were seized.

"It's just not very often we get to put this stuff out," CMPD Lt. Patrick Matthews said.

Espinoza was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of marijuana, trafficking synthetic marijuana, trafficking methamphetamine, and trafficking heroin.

"So, you can clearly see the propensity for violence surrounding that level of narcotics," Matthews said.

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