A security guard for a mining operation at Wallins was arrested Saturday night near the job site for drug trafficking.

Robert Casey Simpson, 47, of Wallins, has been charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, one count of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree trafficking a controlled substance and possession of prescription drugs not in proper container.

According to a press release prepared by Harlan County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Lunsford, he received a complaint from an employee of the strip mining operation located at S and J Curve.

“The employee reported that he saw several vehicles parked just past the gate area on the mountain, which has reportedly been used for illegal drug activity,” Lunsford said.

Deputy Eddie Jones assisted Lunsford on the complaint on the mountain.

“When we got there, I noticed Mr. Simpson, who is a security guard for the company, walking backward behind his vehicle and drop a pill bottle,” Lunsford said. “The pill bottle contained over 100 assorted pills, and he tried to hide them underneath a vehicle. After a search of Mr. Simpson, he also dropped a plastic baggy containing 57 suspected OxyContin pills.”

Items confiscated included OxyContin, methadone, Xanax and hydrocodone pills; $930 in cash and a .38-caliber revolver.

Simpson was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center with bond set at $20,000.

Jones is in charge of the investigation. Constable Robert Haywood also assisted.