CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. -- The U.S. Attorney of Eastern North Carolina, Robert Higdon Jr. is focusing on taking a stand against violent crimes and drug trafficking.

• U.S. Attorney of Eastern North Carolina, Robert Higdon Jr. is taking a stand against violent crimes and drug trafficking.
• Three North Carolinians die per day as a result of drug overdose. Many, due to heroin laced with fentanyl.
• Higdon says he's redirecting resources in his office to assign prosecutors to problem regions.

Friday, Attorney Higdon announced a new initiative called Take Back North Carolina alongside law enforcement from Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret counties.

According to the State Bureau of Investigation, three North Carolinians die per day as a result of drug overdose. Many, due to heroin laced with fentanyl.

But by targeting the worst offenders and taking more cases to federal court, Higdon believes these crimes will be greatly reduced.

"We will not stand back and allow crime rates and drug addiction to continue to rise,” said Higdon. “We will not allow the progress over the past two decades slip through our fingers, we will not cede one block or one street corner to thugs or those peddling the poison of illegal drugs,” he added.

Higdon says he's redirecting resources in his office to assign teams of prosecutors to six geographic regions across the district.

That includes some of the most problematic areas, to maximize success.