China Grove Man Accused Of Participating In An International Drug Smuggling Operation

CHINA GROVE, NC — A 29-year-old man was arrested Friday after officials with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, and USPS say he was bringing cocaine into the United States from a foreign country.

Officials say the investigation into Jafari Johnson’s operation had been going on for more than one and a half years at the time of his arrest. According to reports, he was arrested Friday after a package from outside the United States was delivered to his home on Roberts Drive.

Authorities say they executed a search warrant on his home and seized two kilograms of cocaine, five pounds of marijuana, two 9-millimeter handguns, roughly $12,000 in cash, assorted gold and diamond jewelry, and evidence of multiple packages having been shipped to him.

The drugs seized are valued at roughly $225,000, according to investigators, and one of the guns was reported stolen by Kannapolis Police.

Johnson’s criminal record includes convictions for felony possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling controlled substances, simple possession of cocaine, simple possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of marijuana, and giving fictitious information to a law enforcement officer.

He has been placed under a $1 million secured bond.