North Carolina teacher accused of heroin trafficking, held on $3M bond

GREENSBORO, NC — A middle school English teacher in North Carolina is facing serious drug trafficking charges after authorities say she maintained a second life outside the classroom — as a heroin dealer.

Investigation Uncovers Shocking Double Life

The Guilford County Narcotics Task Force arrested Saadia Marie-Denise Owen, 32, on June 25 in Rowan County. At the time, she was employed at Southern Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, where she taught English to grades six through eight.

According to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Owen is charged with:

• Trafficking heroin or opium

• Maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for the purpose of selling controlled substances

She is currently being held at the Rowan County Detention Center on a $3 million secured bond, authorities confirmed in their statement.

Tenure and Resignation from Teaching Post

Guilford County Schools confirmed that Owen resigned on June 25, the same day of her arrest. She had served as a general curriculum teacher since January 2016, district officials told McClatchy News.

The school’s website listed her as a current faculty member until the resignation. Southern Guilford Middle School has approximately 600 students in grades 6–8, according to U.S. News & World Report.

More Arrests, but No Connection Reported

During the same operation, a 37-year-old man was also arrested on charges of fentanyl trafficking and maintaining a vehicle for drug distribution. However, law enforcement made no connection between his case and Owen’s arrest.

Authorities did not publicly release the full details of the investigation, which was carried out by a multi-agency task force.

The Guilford County Narcotics Task Force includes the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Greensboro Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

How do you think schools should handle background checks and monitoring of staff? Share your opinion in the comments below.