Police report 34 search warrants in multi-agency operation; council separates forfeiture funds

Police Chief Keith Goyette briefed the Kinston City Council on March 3 about a multi-agency narcotics operation that executed 34 search warrants and seized firearms, cash and illegal drugs, then the council voted to reorganize seizure funds to improve accountability.

Goyette told the council that the three-month investigation involved 65 officers from multiple agencies, including the Lenoir and Onslow county sheriffs’ offices, DEA, ALE, FBI and IRS, and targeted illegal marijuana sales—"particularly to minors aged 15–17," the chief said. He said the operation included 26 searches of commercial properties and 8 residential warrants and that officers seized firearms, large sums of cash and drugs, including about 10 pounds delivered to one business. Goyette said he would provide detailed numbers to the city within two days and that seized funds will be processed through federal procedures for potential distribution to participating agencies.

At the same meeting the council unanimously adopted ordinances to retain project P9136 for federal forfeiture proceeds and to create separate project accounts for state forfeiture proceeds (P9155) and miscellaneous police donations (P9156). Finance Director Donna Goodson said the split will simplify annual reporting and make it clearer which proceeds are federal, which are state and which are private donations.

Councilmember Antonio Hardy thanked law enforcement for the operation and raised constituent complaints about youths obtaining drugs from tobacco stores; Councilmember Sammy Aiken asked about participating task-force members and was told the operation included extensive multi-agency cooperation.

The council did not take further formal action at the meeting beyond adopting the fund-structure ordinances; Chief Goyette's office will provide more detailed accounting and seizure figures as follow-up.