A 37-year-old Gastonia man, Okevius Farrell Bigger, was arrested in Clover, South Carolina, on February 4, 2026, ending a multi-agency manhunt for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking in Gaston County, North Carolina. The joint operation by Gaston County Police and York County Sheriff’s Office followed a 2025 investigation revealing Bigger distributed over 3,000 fentanyl pills and 400 grams of meth, worth about $70,000 on the street.
Investigation Details
Gaston County’s Special Investigations Unit tracked Bigger after entering him as a wanted fugitive in NCIC with extradition. He had hidden on family property to evade capture, but detectives closed in after months of surveillance confirming his role in large-scale distribution.​
Charges Faced
Bigger faces 10 counts of fentanyl trafficking, five counts of methamphetamine trafficking, and one count of maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substance sales. Extradited swiftly, he remains at Gaston County Jail without bond.
Broader Impact
Authorities highlighted fentanyl’s role in overdose deaths, urging tips to combat trafficking; this arrest underscores cross-state cooperation in addressing the opioid crisis affecting communities like Gastonia and York County.​
