Oakland County Narcotics Team Makes Big Heroin Bust

Christopher Dukes, 32, of Rochester Hills, faces drug and firearms charges. (Oakland County Sheriff’s Office photo)

» Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Friday its Narcotic Enforcement Team disrupted a major heroin distribution ring last month.

Arrested after the Aug. 18 bust in the 1200 block of Waterford Court in Rochester Hills was Christopher Dukes, 32. He has been charged with one count of delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance from 450 grams to 999 grams, a 30-year felony, and one count of felony firearm, a two-year felony.

When NET members executed a search warrant at the residence, they recovered 939 grams of heroin, 10 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of cocaine, two loaded handguns, drug packaging and paraphernalia, and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The street value of the heroin alone was estimated at between $300,000 and $400,000, the sheriff’s office said.

“With the harmful effects that heroin has had on our communities, I am proud of the diligence and investigatory work of the Narcotic Enforcement Team for taking a large amount of drugs out of the hands of Oakland County residents,” Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said in the statement. “We will continue to place a priority on eradicating heroin and dangerous narcotics off our streets.”

Dukes was arraigned on August 19th at 52-3 District Court in front of Magistrate Melinda Balian and was given a $150,000 cash/surety, no 10 percent bond. He is currently out on bond.

His next court appearance is for a preliminary exam at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 8:30 in 52-3 District Court in front of Judge Nancy Carniak.

Dukes does not have a prior criminal history, police said.

The Oakland County Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET) is a multi-jurisdictional task force which is designed to integrate federal and local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of identifying, investigating, and prosecuting violators of state and federal narcotic laws.

NET is comprised of members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and 15 other outside law enforcement agencies that serve all of the residents of Oakland County.