Investigators seize $3M worth of cocaine in Chatham Co. drug bust

Thursday, September 29, 2016
CHATHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Investigators shut down a high-level drug trafficking operation in Chatham County last week, seizing 38 kilograms of cocaine worth more than $3 million.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office, alongside federal, state, and other local authorities located a major cocaine trafficking operation at 131 Morton Road, Chapel Hill, on Sept. 23.
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Deputies located and seized 38 kilograms of suspected cocaine hydrochloride, the estimated street value of which is well over $3 million. Deputies also seized $530,000 in U.S. currency, which was packaged, sealed, and prepped for transport out of the country.

Deputies seized five firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, a commercial-grade currency counter, digital scales, and several luxury vehicles.

Top row, from left: Jose Manuel Elzaldo-Serrano; Carlos Ocegyeda-Serrano; Venusian Serrano-Mejia. Bottom row, from left: Fernado Rivera-Hernandez; Christian Manor Gomez-Santos.

Credit: Chatham County Sheriff's Office


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Investigators have charged Jose Manuel Elzaldo-Serrano, 39, Carlos Ocegyeda-Serrano, 41, Venusian Serrano-Mejia, 40, Fernado Rivera-Hernandez, 45, Christian Manor Gomez-Santos, 30, of 131 Morton Road, Chapel Hill, with trafficking a schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and maintaining a dwelling/place to sell or distribute cocaine, all of which are violations of the NC Controlled Substance Act.

Each suspect received a $1 million secured bond and had a first appearance in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on Sept. 26.

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