Charles Lee Gore was arrested north of Silsbee on Tuesday during a bust-out campaign conducted by the Hardin County Sheriff’s office. - Photo by Danny Reneau

The Hardin County Sheriff's office conducted a drug bust-out on Monday.

Sheriff Ed Cain and the Hardin County Sheriff's Office, along with assistance from the Silsbee Police Department, Kountze Police Department, Sour Lake Police Department, Lumberton Police Department, Auto Theft Task Force, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agency, and the United States Marshall's Service joined forces to attempt to execute felony arrest warrants

Sheriff Ed Cain stated that they targeted 13 individuals for the raid and of this group they were able to apprehend nine. They had warrants on 12 additional suspects. This brought their list of warrants to 25. The  authorities had 15 of these individuals in custody at the time the paper was printed.

The first suspect they took into custody identified the location of a small amount of crack cocaine and some synthetic drugs that he had in his possession.

Sheriff Cain noted that "without citizens we could not do our job." He went on to say that "we get numerous complaints and this drug raid is a result of those complaints."

The bust-out was a joint effort of many branches of law enforcement. Cain stated that the different departments get along very well and have good working relationships.

They like to serve the warrants with a show of force. The officers feeling that when they appear at a residence it is much safer if the numbers are on their side.

Cain explained that "unfortunately there are more of them (drug dealers) than there are of us.
 By showing up in force the odds move in favor of the officers.
 

It usually takes officers six to eight months to develop a case. The officers agree that narcotics are out of control but their effort will be to continue to fight them.

Cain stated that many of the local officers work 16 hours per day in an effort to get the drugs off the streets.
Often people say that the departments hold the drug raids because it is election time.

Hardin County has held drug bust outs approximately every six months and this is election time but the Sheriff from Hardin county does not face an opponent in the general election.

Sheriff Cain would like to thank Silsbee Police Chief Mark Davis, Kountze Police Chief Andy Trahan, Sour Lake Police Chief Larry Suarge, Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins, the Auto Theft Task Force, the A.T.F.E. Agency and the U.S. Marshall's Service for supplying the man power necessary in the apprehension of these individuals.

Watch for a complete list of those apprehended in the next edition of The Bee.