WINDSOR – An alleged major supplier of Ecstasy is now behind bars.

Linwood Earl Jones II, age 27, of Windsor was arrested Tuesday following an investigation involving law enforcement officers from three counties.

Jones, jailed under a $200,000 bond, stands charged with one felony count each of possession with intent to sell MDMA Ecstasy and trafficking in MDMA Ecstasy by possessing more than 100 to 500 pills.

MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Ecstasy is usually ingested in pill form, although use of powder or crystal is increasing in popularity. Its effects include a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria and well-being. Tactile sensations are enhanced for some users, making physical contact with others more pleasurable.

Ecstasy is listed as a Schedule 1 Narcotic, meaning the substance has a high level of abuse.

Working with the sheriff’s offices in Beaufort and Martin counties, officials with the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office worked this case undercover for several months. According to Detective Sgt. Frank Timberlake of the Bertie Sheriff’s Narcotics Division, Jones allegedly sold approximately 140 Ecstasy pills to an undercover law enforcement officer in Martin County.

Upon his arrest for that transaction, law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant for Jones’ residence in Bertie County. There a search revealed approximately 600 pills of the drug. That led to Bertie charges of trafficking on Ecstasy by possessing more than 500 pills (but less than 1,000) as well as possession with intent to sell and deliver.

“This was an arrest of a large scale supplier,” Bertie Sheriff Greg Atkins said. “Anytime you’re able to place a large dent into the supply lines of illegal drugs, you’re able to disrupt that flow as well as to send a message that we, as law enforcement officers, are very aware of your illegal dealings. With the teamwork displayed by the different agencies in this case, we demonstrated that we will use every available resource and share information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those who choose this illegal lifestyle.”

Timberlake said Jones was a large supplier of Ecstasy in the Bertie, Martin and Beaufort county area.

“Cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different counties is key when working one of these cases,” Timberlake said. “Drug dealers do not recognize county lines and it takes good police work from all agencies to make a good arrest such as this one and we want to thank Beaufort County and Martin County for helping us close this drug store.”

Timberlake added, “It’s the goal of all officers to stop this poison from hitting our streets and finding its way to our citizens, especially our children.”