Four‐Month Investigation Leads to Multiple Drug Charges for Wilmington Man
A four-month undercover operation by a multi-agency task force culminated in the arrest of 26-year-old Wilmington resident Liqueonte Jones on May 19, 2025. According to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) and Wilmington Police Department (WPD), the investigation targeted a suspected fentanyl and heroin distribution ring operating across multiple city neighborhoods.
Investigators say that a confidential informant first contacted WPD in January 2025, alleging that Jones was supplying large quantities of fentanyl and heroin to street dealers. Over the ensuing months, detectives conducted controlled buys that resulted in the seizure of small sample amounts of suspected fentanyl and heroin, which were later confirmed by the state forensic lab.
On May 19, officers executed a search warrant at a Wilmington apartment linked to Jones. Inside, they recovered:
Approximately 45 grams of heroin/fentanyl packaged in 627 individual bags
6.5 grams of crack cocaine
Drug‐packaging materials (baggies, scales)
Over $1,400 in cash
Shortly thereafter, a second warrant was served at a nearby residence, yielding an additional:
1,356 bags of heroin/fentanyl (approximately 45.38 grams)
4.7 grams of raw fentanyl
707 MDMA (ecstasy) pills
689 grams of marijuana
84 Alprazolam (Xanax) pills
$4,406 in cash
Authorities credit the joint effort of NHCSO, WPD, and the Drug Enforcement Administration with coordinating surveillance, wire intercepts, and financial analysis. “This was not simply a low-level street deal,” said Lieutenant Marcus Hayes of WPD’s Narcotics Unit. “The volume and packaging suggest a distribution network supplying multiple neighborhoods. By dismantling this operation, we’ve potentially saved countless lives from fentanyl overdoses.”
Jones faces charges including:
Trafficking heroin/fentanyl (over 10 grams)
Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine
Possession of MDMA with intent to distribute
Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances
Possession of drug paraphernalia
He was booked into the New Hanover County Detention Center on a $162,252 cash bond. “Drug trafficking remains a top priority for our department,” said Sheriff Brenda Hightower. “Collaborative investigations like this one demonstrate our commitment to removing dangerous substances from our streets and holding those responsible accountable.