Executive Summary
- Authorities executed a search warrant on Dryman Valley Road in Woodfin, NC.
- Seized items included 5.43 lbs of meth, 38.4g of heroin, and $29,659 in cash.
- The operation was a joint effort between Buncombe County (NC) and Washington County (TN).
- Suspect Anna Marie Viruet-North faces multiple Level III trafficking charges.
WOODFIN, N.C. — A coordinated law enforcement operation involving agencies from North Carolina and Tennessee resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of narcotics and the arrest of a 60-year-old woman on high-level trafficking charges. The search warrant, executed on February 18, led to the discovery of over five pounds of methamphetamine and nearly $30,000 in cash.
According to a press release from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, members of the Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT) executed the warrant at a residence on Dryman Valley Road in Woodfin. Investigators reported seizing 5.43 pounds of methamphetamine, 38.4 grams of tar heroin, and 17 grams of psilocybin. Additionally, a Jennings .22 caliber handgun and $29,659 in U.S. currency were confiscated from the property.
Authorities identified the suspect as Anna Marie Viruet-North. She has been charged with Level III trafficking in methamphetamine by possession, Level III trafficking in opium/heroin, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver psilocybin. Further charges include maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The operation was described by officials as a collaborative effort between the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee. Local support was provided by the Woodfin Police Department and the Buncombe County K-9 unit. Following her arrest, Viruet-North was transferred to the custody of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Interstate Investigative Impact
The involvement of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee alongside North Carolina authorities highlights the strategic necessity of cross-border cooperation in narcotics interdiction. By leveraging resources across state lines, law enforcement agencies aim to disrupt supply chains that often utilize regional corridors to transport illicit substances. The “Level III” trafficking charges levied in this case represent the most severe classification under North Carolina sentencing guidelines for drug possession, indicating that investigators and prosecutors view this location as a significant distribution hub requiring strict judicial scrutiny.
