[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 111 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S3583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OPERATION UPTOWN FUNK

  Mr. BUDD. Madam President, I rise to recognize and commend the 
outstanding efforts of our law enforcement community in western North 
Carolina for their role in the success of Operation Uptown Funk. Now, 
that is a pretty creative name, but it is a very serious issue. It was 
a yearlong investigation into drug trafficking in Appalachia.
  This coordinated operation has involved law enforcement agencies from 
Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, and Transylvania Counties in North 
Carolina as well as Greenville and Spartanburg Counties in South 
Carolina, and it has been supported by the Drug Enforcement 
Administration. This is nothing short of a strong testament to the 
commitment of our law enforcement officers to put the welfare of our 
communities first.
  Over the course of this investigation, authorities confiscated more 
than $175,000 in illicit funds, 20 firearms, and 30 pounds of illegal 
drugs, including substantial quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, 
and fentanyl. More than 30 individuals from Henderson County have been 
arrested and are being held accountable for their role in this 
dangerous drug network.
  These results are not just statistics. They represent lives saved, 
overdoses prevented, and neighborhoods that can breathe easier knowing 
that they are a lot safer.
  In a region still working to recover from the devastation caused by 
Hurricane Helene, dismantling this trafficking ring has brought a 
renewed sense of hope and security for Western North Carolinians.
  On behalf of the people of North Carolina, I extend my deepest 
gratitude and congratulations to Sheriff Lowell Griffin of Henderson 
County, Sheriff Quentin Miller of Buncombe County, Sheriff Bill Wilke 
of Haywood County, and Sheriff Chuck Owenby of Transylvania County. I 
also want to thank the dedicated men and women within their 
departments--especially the Henderson County Drug Interdiction and 
Criminal Enforcement Unit, or DICE--for their service. Their courage 
has protected countless families and made it clear to drug traffickers 
they will find no refuge in the mountains of our beautiful Western 
North Carolina.
  It is my honor to represent a State whose law enforcement 
professionals lead with tremendous integrity and commitment to our 
citizens. I will continue working in the U.S. Senate to ensure that 
they have the tools, resources, and support they need to keep our 
communities safe.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

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