Ted Budd
Washington – Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) set aside over two minutes on the U.S. Senate floor Monday, to recognize the Graham County Sheriff's Office and other agencies involved in the successful deployment of "Operation Dirty Laundry" last November.
Budd pointed out that the multi-agency operation took 11 months to assemble, but "successfully disrupted a large-scale, criminal network."
"For North Carolinians of Graham County, the completion of this operation brings a new hope and reassurance that local law enforcement is standing firm in holding criminals accountable that seek to exploit our communities," said Budd, a native of Winston-Salem. "As I've said before on the Senate floor, drug traffickers will find no refuge in western North Carolina – or anywhere in the Old North State."
Phase 1 of "Operation Dirty Laundry" was launched Nov. 22, 2024, when the Cherokee, Clay and Graham County Sheriff's offices raided Z's Tobacco & Vape stores in their respective counties. Local officials also busted The Washboard Laundromat and The Greener Side Dispensary, after gathering intel that all of the locations had turned into alleged hubs for illegal drug distribution. In the case of The Washboard and Z's Tobacco & Vape, illegal gambling was also alleged. Four arrests were made that day.
Phase 2 rolled out four days later and resulted in 29 additional, local arrests related to narcotics activity. Joining the Cherokee, Clay and Graham County Sheriff's offices in carrying out the execution of search warrants and collection of evidence was the Jackson and Swain County Sheriff's offices; the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and its gaming unit; the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and its S.E.R.T. (State Emergency Response Team) unit; the N.C. Department of Revenue - Controlled Substance Tax Unit; the N.C. State Highway Patrol; the N.C. National Guard Counter Drug Task Force; the N.C. National Guard Counter Drug Task Force - Ground Reconnaissance Unit; and District Attorney Ashley Welch's office.
"I applaud the continuing efforts of local law enforcement to bring these dangerous criminals to justice," Budd added.
"I'm going to continue to ensure that our law-enforcement agencies have the resources they need to keep North Carolina strong."
Charges against 38 total individuals arrested during the investigation are still pending.