RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials say Alcohol Law Enforcement special agents arrested more than 123 people during a statewide crackdown over the weekend.
The State Bureau of Investigation announced in a release Monday that agents partnered with local, state and federal agencies to make the arrests on alcohol, drug, firearm and gambling charges. Officials say the effort targeted violence and illegal activity anywhere alcohol was sold, legally and illegally.
Officials say they seized 14 firearms, controlled substances, two illegal distilleries and more than $13,000 in cash. Of 237 charges, 93 were alcoholic beverage-related, 77 were drug-related and six were gambling charges.
ALE special agents will also submit violation reports to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for criminal and regulatory violations at 26 ABC-permitted businesses.
“ALE’s primary mission is to protect public safety, so we apply considerable resources to regularly train the owners and staff of ABC permitted establishments to help them understand and obey North Carolina law,” said Bryan House, acting Head of North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement. “But when those laws are purposefully violated, the health and safety of our communities is at risk. To address these violators, we won’t hesitate to use all available manpower as we did this past weekend.”