War on drugs in Sussex County, Delaware
Law enforcement and health officials say they’re battling against illicit drug use in Delaware. The war on drugs was started in 1971 by the Nixon Administration, but it is still raging on today, and it’s no different in Sussex County.
Senior Corporal Leonard DeMalto of Delaware State Police has first hand experience fighting on the front lines of the war on drugs.
“It’s an ongoing battle trying to push back against the drug epidemic.”
Back in February, a hunter was looking for deer antlers in the woods and found something much different, overturned earth and shovel laying next to it. The man looked closer, finding partially buried duffle bags.
“Members of our task force, the Governor’s Task Force, came and investigated and they found over a pound and a half of cocaine and over 1.6 ounces of heroin,” Senior Corporal DeMalto said. “Now that is for sure a significant amount of drugs and that is just what was found here on one day.”
Investigators commenced a stakeout at the location, identifying the suspect as James May of Seaford.
“They continue to investigate him,” Senior Corporal DeMalto said. “They end up seizing his vehicle a short time later with additional drugs in the car including heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.”
After several months of investigating, police say they finally caught the suspect in June.
“They locate Mr. May driving in the Lewes area and he was taken into custody for these drugs, the drugs in his car and additional drugs that were in his possession.”
Police say a drug bust of this size is no common thing in Delaware.
“That amount of heroin, I’d be comfortable in saying prevented an innumerable amount of overdose deaths in Sussex county or anywhere else in Delaware.”
While police say drugs are coming into Delaware from all directions, fentanyl, often found cut with heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine is being made closer to home than you may think.
“It’s being manufactured here in Delaware.”
Senior Corporal DeMalto says other ways the drugs are finding their way to Delaware is overseas and south, from the border.
“Its coming from far and wide.”
