Deputies seize 3 pounds of meth in southern Laurel County

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies seized approximately three pounds of crystal methamphetamine and two firearms during a traffic stop earlier this month in southern Laurel County.

Laurel County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Brian France, and his four-legged partner, “Maverick,” helped seize three pounds of crystal methamphetamine and these two guns during a recent traffic stop in southern Laurel County. Two Tennessee residents were arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Deputies arrested the driver, Kenneth Edward Broyles, 43, of Mosheim, Tennessee, and passenger Ernest Woodley Triplett Jr., 48, of Rogersville, Tennessee, charging them with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the incident, according to a Tuesday afternoon press release.

On Oct. 11, Laurel County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Brian France conducted a traffic stop on a gray Toyota Camry for disregarding a traffic light at the junction of I-75 and West Cumberland Gap Parkway in southern Laurel County, the release stated.

France made contact with Broyles and due to suspicious actions on the part of the driver and the passenger, France deployed his K-9 partner, Maverick, in search of drugs, according to the release.

Maverick gave a positive indication to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, and a subsequent search of the vehicle turned up the methamphetamine and guns, the release noted.

Broyles was also charged with disregarding a traffic control device and operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, according to the Laurel County Correctional Center’s website.

Triplett and Broyles were released from the Laurel County Correctional Center one week after their arrest on Oct. 18, according to the correctional center’s website.

France and Maverick were assisted by Laurel County Sheriff’s Interdiction Unit Justin Taylor, London Police Officer Joey Robinson and Laurel County Constable Robert Smith.

Sheriff John Root stated that drug arrests will continue in Laurel County.