HINDMAN – Five people were arrested October 27 after police stopped a van suspected of bringing drugs from Indiana to Knott County.
Three of the individuals face drug trafficking charges from Operation UNITE while the other two were arrested on outstanding Kentucky warrants by officers from the Kentucky State Police and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
On Tuesday, UNITE detectives received information that individuals in a blue van with Indiana license plates were selling a variety of prescription medications in Knott County.
About 2:30 p.m. KSP Trooper James Sandlin spotted the van driving carelessly on Montgomery Creek Road and conducted a traffic stop.
Sandlin received consent to search the van, and discovered three pill bottles concealed behind the dash.
When one of the passengers got out another pill bottle was located between the seats, and yet more pills were discovered on a third passenger.
In all, law enforcement recovered 167 Endocet, 61 Methadone, 36 Hydrocodone and 7 Klonopin pills.
UNITE arrested 24-year-old Rocky Wicker of Mousie on one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance; 22-year-old Angel Weber of North State Road 13 in Pierceton, Indiana, on one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance; and 60-year-old John Jordan, of Madison Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on one count of first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.
The van’s driver, Shelby Chaffins of Pierceton, Indiana, and another passenger whose name was not available were arrested on the outstanding warrants. Chaffins was also cited for the traffic violation.
All suspects were lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Detention Center.