A routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 321 near Granite Falls turned into a major drug bust on July 22, 2026, after Caldwell County deputies said they seized about 392 grams of methamphetamine and arrested two people on trafficking charges.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspects as Amber Nichole Moretz of Lenoir and Thomas Craig Harden of Connelly Springs. Both were charged with multiple counts of trafficking in methamphetamine. Investigators pegged the street value of the meth at roughly $58,000. Moretz was being held on a $100,000 secured bond and Harden on a $350,000 secured bond at the Caldwell Detention Center, according to the sheriff’s office.
How deputies say the stop unfolded
Deputies say the traffic stop happened as Moretz and Harden were traveling along Highway 321 when K‑9 Jade alerted to the odor of narcotics. That tip from the dog led officers to search the vehicle, where they reported finding roughly 392 grams of methamphetamine.
The Caldwell County I.C.E. unit led the investigation with help from local agencies. Deputies again estimated the haul’s value at about $58,000, according to a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook.
What the charges carry under state law
In North Carolina, trafficking in methamphetamine starts at 28 grams. Possession of 200-399 grams, a range that would include roughly 392 grams, is treated as a Class E felony. If prosecutors prove that amount at conviction, state law sets a mandatory minimum prison term of 90 months and a minimum fine of $100,000. Those penalties are outlined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-95.
Sheriff’s message and how to report tips
Sheriff Kevin H. Bean said his office has “zero tolerance for drug dealers” and that investigators plan to push the case through the county court system, according to the release. The same release lists several tip lines: Caldwell County CrimeStoppers at 828-758-8300, Hudson Police at 828-728-5021, the Lenoir Police Department Narcotics Division at 828-757-2145, Granite Falls Police at 828-396-3358, and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office I.C.E. unit at 828-757-1178, per the sheriff’s office post on Facebook.
Where the suspects are now
Moretz and Harden were booked into the Caldwell County Detention Center in Lenoir under the bonds listed in the sheriff’s release and remain in custody as their cases move through Caldwell County courts. For more on the sheriff’s office and detention facility, visit the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office page.
