Police seize 300 grams of cocaine in drug bust

Hardin County investigators arrested three men for drug trafficking and uncovered 300 grams of powder cocaine they believe originated in Colombia.

Darren Deckard, 30, of Elizabethtown, Maher M. Najjar, 24, of Elizabethtown and Joshua W. Rogers, 33, of Radcliff each were arrested for complicity to commit first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Ron Eckart, director of the Greater Hardin County Drug Task Force, said the agency received information Friday morning regarding a potential location of the cocaine.

According to Eckart, police found Deckard and Najjar at a Loyola Court residence in Elizabethtown while Rogers was at his parents’ residence in Radcliff.

Through investigation and interviews, police determined the cocaine, which amounts to nearly three-fourths of a pound, originated from Bogota, Colombia, he said.

“It’s quite a bit to find all together at one time,” Eckart said.

In addition to marijuana and methamphetamine, the director said investigators run into a lot of crack and powder cocaine in the Hardin County area.

First-degree trafficking in a controlled substance is a Class C felony, which is punishable by five to 10 years in prison if found guilty, according to Kentucky Revised Statutes. 

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.