Operation Rolling Thunder Nets Guns, Drugs and Cash

***September 4, 2009 11:55 a.m.***

A traffic crackdown nets guns and cash and plenty of arrests.

Law enforcement officers from across the state have been working together this past week in "Operation Rolling Thunder."

They've been lining the interstates looking for dangerous drivers and anyone else who doesn't need to be out on the streets.

Now the results are in.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff held a news conference at the Spartanburg Marriott Friday morning showing stacks of cash, drugs and guns.

It was the fourth year of operation rolling thunder and take a look at everything that was seized.

Agencies from across the state joined forces this week and our cameras caught some of the action.

They made 10 felony arrests and arrested 4 fugitives, one of those was a man wanted for murder.

The Sheriff said in that man's vehicle they found drugs and two guns. One of the guns was an AK47.

The Sheriff says he's glad they've picked up the guns and drugs, but he worries those accused of these crimes won't stay off the street for long because of the current laws and court system.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright says, "We need to do a better job of keeping our bad guys where they need to be. Some of these people have shown over and over again that they're not going to comply with what we, all of us in this room will."

The Sheriff says the guns that were seized may actually solve other crimes. SLED checks their ballistics and other identifying features against murder cases and other crimes across the state.

The items taken off the streets are actually less that this operation has gathered in previous years. We’ll tell you why coming up Friday on News Channel 7 at 5.
***September 4, 2009 5:20 a.m.***

By now you have probably noticed the patrol cars at nearly every exit of Interstates 85 and 26 along with cars and trucks pulled over by the dozens.

Operation Rolling Thunder came to an end Thursday night.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright will hold a news conference Friday to tell us what was seized and how many tickets were written.

Patrol cars from agencies all over the state participated in the annual program.

The goal is to catch those driving dangerously and those trafficking drugs.

In years past, deputies have seized tons of cash drugs and written hundreds of tickets.