Man arrested on 20 drug charges, detained on $1 million bond

LELAND—A Hampstead man has been arrested on 20 drug-related charges.

According to arrest reports, Luis Miguel Gamboa-Gomez, 25, of 3212 Highway 210 W., has been charged with the following: 10 counts of trafficking in cocaine, two counts of manufacturing cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine, four counts of sell/deliver cocaine and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lt. Mickey Smith, head of the drug enforcement unit, said the SWAT team assisted drug agents in the arrest.

Agents with the Brunswick County Sheriff Office Drug Enforcement Unit arrested Gomez after a month-long investigation targeting illegal drug activity in the Leland area, specifically among the Hispanic community, Smith said.

“To the best of our knowledge, he is illegal,” Smith said, adding drug agents have contacted Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Gomez was arrested without incident Friday night, he said.

At press time Tuesday, Gomez was in custody at the Brunswick County Detention Center on a $1 million secured bond.

Drug agents also arrested 45-year-old Michael James Wright and charged him with felony possession of cocaine. Wright, of 216 Chickasaw Lane in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was in custody at the Brunswick County Detention Center on a $5,000 secured bond.