BEATTYVILLE ­ An investigation into alleged drug dealing led to the arrest of five individuals at a Lee County motel on Wednesday, February 6.

The Jackson Police Department had received a tip about possible marijuana sales from the Tinchers Motel on KY 11-South and notified Operation UNITE, said Paul Hays, deputy law enforcement director for UNITE.

About 3 p.m. on Wednesday, UNITE detectives accompanied by officers from the Jackson Police Department, Beattyville Police Department, Lee County Sheriff¹s Office and Kentucky State Police approached the room where the suspects were staying and discovered approximately 2 pounds of marijuana and
$445 in cash.

UNITE arrested 61-year-old Charlie J. Neace, of Little Leatherwood Road in Lost Creek (Breathitt County), on a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school (Southside Elementary).

Neace currently has an unrelated drug trafficking charge pending in Breathitt County.

KSP troopers charged Neace¹s wife, son and two other woman on charges ranging from first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and public intoxication (drugs).

All suspects were lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail.

For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org .

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In 2003, Fifth District Congressman Harold ³Hal² Rogers (R-Somerset) worked to create Operation UNITE, a regional anti-drug initiative empowering citizens groups and community leaders in 29 southern and eastern Kentucky counties. UNITE, which stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education, seeks to fight the drug epidemic by expanding drug awareness and education programs to keep people from using drugs; coordinating drug treatment and outreach programs for those who are already addicted; and operating regional undercover law enforcement task forces for interdiction and prosecution of those dealing drugs. Rogers has directed
$36.6 million in federal funds to the counter-drug initiative over the past five years. For more information contact Karen Engle toll-free at 1-866-678-6483.