Mass drug arrests underway

Sixty-five people are targeted in a mass arrest operation involving drug charges, Wise County Commonwealth Attorney Chuck Slemp has announced.

In a press release this morning, Slemp announced that officers from several police agencies launched the operation in the early morning hours Tuesday. The suspects were recently indicted by the multi jurisdictional grand jury at Wise. The arrests stem from an extensive investigation by the Southwest Virginia Regional Narcotics Task Force involving illegal drug activity in Wise County.

More than 125 drug charges are involved, including nearly 100 felony charges involving the distribution, manufacture, and possession of methamphetamine, Slemp said. Additionally, 38 of the cases involve diversion of the prescription drug buprenorphine.

Participating agencies include the Wise County Sheriff's Department, Virginia State Police, the Norton Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the Coeburn Police Department and the Wise Police Department.