By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Rowan County Sheriff’s Office investigators landed one of the largest drug busts of the year this week, netting more than 7 pounds of cocaine.
According to a report, deputies worked with Salisbury Police officers after getting information about a large cocaine shipment coming into Salisbury.
Through the investigation, deputies identified 52-year-old Luis Alberto Valencia as the suspect involved in the delivery.
About 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, authorities stopped Valencia’s red Toyota Camry in a parking lot in the 1700 block of N.C. 52. Inside the vehicle, deputies found 3.5 kilograms — about 7.7 pounds — of cocaine in packaged “bricks,” the report said.
Valencia was charged with two counts of felony trafficking cocaine and felony possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine.
He was placed under a $400,000 bond and remained in jail Thursday.
After the arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents determined Valencia was in the country illegally.
Valencia gave authorities an address of 202 Dianne St., Wingate. Union County deputies searched the home Wednesday and found two firearms, one of which had been reported stolen.