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GARYSBURG – A traffic stop conducted on a speeding motorist resulted in the discovery of nearly $100,000 worth of illegal drugs, including 17,000 dosage units of heroin/fentanyl.

Kenneth Lassiter, 46, of Raleigh, a native of Bertie County, was arrested for numerous drug-related crimes on Feb. 21 after the vehicle he was operating on I-95 in Northampton County was caught speeding. The vehicle stop was performed by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office and Down East Drug Task Force.

According to the Northampton Sheriff’s Office, Lassiter presented a fake identification card during the traffic stop in an attempt to conceal his identity. Reasonable suspicion of criminal activity was developed and a canine was deployed. The canine alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed over 1 pound of heroin/fentanyl and about 2.2 pounds of cocaine, hidden inside of the truck. The heroin/fentanyl has a street value of about $51,000 while the cocaine carries a street value of approximately $40,000.

Lassiter was charged with two counts of Trafficking Heroin, two counts Trafficking Cocaine, one count of possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, one count of possession with intent to sell/deliver heroin, one count possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce, one count of possession drug paraphernalia, one count of driving while license revoked, and one count of identity theft.

He was placed in the Northampton County Detention Center under a $277,500 bond.

Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith stated that he is very proud of the dedication shown by the members of the Sheriff’s Office and the Down East Drug Task Force.

“They have kept extremely dangerous drugs from reaching our streets. Heroin, which is typically laced with fentanyl, has become an epidemic in America and is killing our citizens,” Smith said.