A Scotland Neck man with a lengthy criminal record that includes past drug sales was arrested today on heroin trafficking counts.

Lieutenant Anzell Harris of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office described Gerald Whitaker, 39, as a person allegedly high up the chain in the local heroin trade.

His arrest on two counts of trafficking heroin culminates an investigation that began June 13 of last year.

The results of that investigation, in which several bricks of heroin were seized — a brick contains 50 user-sized bindles — led Harris to obtain warrants for Whitaker's arrest.

Agents D.C. Dickens and D.R. Radford arrested Whitaker in the Highway 903 area of Scotland Neck.

The investigation was a joint effort by the sheriff's office, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Harris said DEA will review the case for possible federal adoption.

He declined comment on the specific number of bricks seized as well as the dollar amount, pending continued investigation into the case.

Whitaker was jailed on $75,000 secured bond and assigned an August 6 court date.