JACKSON – Through a commitment to address illegal drug trafficking, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division in conjunction with the Down East Drug Task Force has arrested twin brothers in the initial stages of “Operation First Wave.”

Agents with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office and the Down East Drug Task Force were able to make controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Tirrell Demond Simmons and Terrell Lamont Simmons, both of 1711 Sam Powell Dairy Road in Roanoke Rapids.

“This first wave of investigations involving the sale of illegal narcotics targeted the Gaston area of our county,” said Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith.

Smith said the effort put in by his officers as well as Task Force agents along with the help of the City County Drug Task Force (Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County law enforcement officers), the Simmons twins were placed under arrest after a traffic stop conducted on US 158 in front of the Farmers Market in Roanoke Rapids.

In February’s term of Superior Court, true bills of indictment were returned for Terrel and Tirrell Simmons for the possession with intent to sale and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, and felony maintaining a vehicle or place of dwelling for the purpose of the sale and delivery of a controlled substance.

Each brother received a secured bond of $30,000 and an initial appearance in Northampton County District Court on April 24.

The Simmons twins reportedly have drug contacts in the Gaston area, Captain A.M. Harris of the City County Drug Task Force in Halifax County said.

Sheriff Smith also confirmed the brothers have been known to frequent the county.

Northampton Sheriff’s Lieutenant A.J. Thomas said this is the second time they have been arrested in Northampton County.

Both brothers are on 60-month supervised probation after being convicted of counts associated with larceny and possession of stolen goods in Halifax County, according to state court records.

Thomas said investigation of the twins has been going on “for quite a while.”

“The Northampton County Sheriff Office Narcotics Unit and the Down East Drug Task Force would like to thank the City County Drug Task Force for the helping hand in the arrest of repeat narcotics offenders Terrill and Tirrell Simmons. Working jointly and diligently for a common goal is critical on the war on narcotics use and sale,” stated Sheriff Smith.

Lt. Thomas gave special thanks the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.

“Without the help of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, the start of this operation would not have been possible. They were vital in the early stages of this operation,” Lt. Thomas noted.

Sheriff Smith added that more arrests are forthcoming with “Operation First Wave.”

“The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage citizens to report any and all suspicious activities to law enforcement,” Smith stated. “Citizens of Northampton County can report drug activity anonymously to the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office at 252-534-2611 extension 175.  All tips can be submitted anonymously and will be followed up on as they come in.”