By Shelley Smith
ssmith@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Two out-of-town men were charged with trafficking heroin Wednesday afternoon, and both were placed in the Rowan County jail under $750,000 bond.
The arrests were the result of a joint drug investigation by drug units with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and Salisbury Police Department.
Rowan County Sheriff’s Detective Chad Moose said authorities received information that the men were coming through town Wednesday to make a delivery, and authorities with both agencies waited for the suspects along Interstate 85, stopping them around 3:30 p.m. on Webb Road.
Authorities found 21 grams of heroin and a small amount of marijuana.
Namath Philip Beam, 24, of 5501 Racine Ave., Charlotte, and Daniel Ponce Panedo, 22, of 516 Arch Drive, Rock Hill, S.C., were each charged with two counts of trafficking opium or heroin, conspiring to traffic opium or heroin, possession with intent to manufacture sell or deliver heroin, simple possession of marijuana and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance.
Authorities said both Panedo and Beam are convicted felons. Panedo is being checked through the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement database to determine if he is an illegal alien.They will both make their first appearance in court Friday.
Moose said most of the heroin found in Rowan County comes from Charlotte.