UNITE targets well-known Rockhold bootlegger for drugs

Members of a task-force created to fight the illegal drug trade in eastern Kentucky are targeting a well-known Whitley County bootlegger whom they say has “expanded his business.”
Detectives from the UNITE Cumberland Drug Task Force arrested 56-year-old Boyd Swafford, of Rockholds, and 25-year-old Eric Curnett, of Corbin, last Friday on charges that they conspired to sell illegal narcotics and alcohol and for being a members of a criminal syndicate.
The arrests came after officers from UNITE, along with troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 11 in London and the Drug Enforcement Administration, executed search warrants at five locations on McNeil Corn Creek Road. All of the locations either belonged to Swafford or his family members, officials say.
Seized in the raid was six grams of marijuana, 66 Hydrocodone tablets, 65 doses of schedule IV narcotics and eight doses of schedule II narcotics. Also taken by police were 16 firearms and $12,837.
“We had information from the community that Mr. Swafford and others were working together on a large-scale drug operation,” said Paul Hays, Deputy Director at UNITE. “We did some research and investigation regarding the matter and we found that they were truly one of the bigger illegal drug dealers in the Tri-County area.”
The arrests were part of a three-month investigation that included surveillance and controlled drug buys by UNITE officers or informants.
Karen Engle, Executive Director of UNITE, said there is “strong evidence” that about 300 to 400 cars daily go to the residences to purchase drugs or alcohol.
“We knew they were having problems,” she said. “We received a lot of complaints through our tip line on this particular residence. The public support has been really important to us. The public told us it was a problem and we addressed that.”
Thirty-one people were cited by officers for attempting to purchase illegal drugs while officials were conducting the raid. Engle said UNITE is seeking indictments on seven others, family and associates, who were allegedly involved with Swafford’s operation.
Swafford posted a $50,000 property bond shortly after his arrest and is due back in Whitley District Court Feb. 20 to answer to the charges.
Both Hays, who is a former post commander with Kentucky State Police, and Engle said they are well aware that Swafford has had a bootlegging operation for years, but say his alleged recent drug deals caught the task force’s attention.
“I’ve been in law enforcement in the London area for 25 years and as long as I can remember, his name has come to the top, but he’s managed to come under the radar scale on a lot of things for some reason,” Hays said. “Obviously, he was one of the most prominent illegal drug dealers in the Tri-County area. I think when the case comes to court, there will be a lot more understanding of just how big he was.”
Engle said many traditional bootleggers have migrated over to drugs … a troubling trend she said UNITE plans to address.
“They’ve gotten greedy and moved to other things. It’s not just selling beer out of their barn anymore. It’s a more serious issue.”
Engle added that UNITE may seek federal charges against Swafford.
UNITE stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education and serves 29 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky. The organization engages in law enforcement efforts, as well as drug treatment and drug education and awareness.
Fifth District U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Somerset) is responsible for creating the program.