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WOODLAND – A search of a residence outside of Woodland last week led to multiple charges against a local man.

Marcus Johnson, age 45, of Woodland was arrested and charged on Sept. 3 with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, trafficking cocaine by possession, trafficking cocaine by transportation, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver Schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for the sale of a controlled substance, and resisting a public officer. He received a $25,000 secured bond

Law enforcement officers with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, Down East Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation executed the search warrant at Johnson’s residence. The search was the result of an ongoing narcotics investigation into Johnson’s involvement in drug trafficking throughout Northampton County.

Through the investigation, probable cause was developed to believe that Johnson was selling illegal narcotics from the residence. As a result of the search, law enforcement officers located 100 grams of cocaine, a firearm, and items used to package and sell narcotics.

The search warrant stemmed from the ongoing efforts of local, state, and federal agencies to suppress local drug activity. In March of this year, Sheriff Jack Smith (Northampton County), Sheriff Dexter Hayes (Hertford County), Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin (Bertie County), and Chief Michele Garrett (Ahoskie Police Department) met to discuss how each of the agencies could assist one another in combating crime in each of their jurisdictions. These administration heads chose to revive and redesign the Down East Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.