Defendants Arrested in Twiggs County after Lengthy Undercover Operation

JEFFERSONVILLE - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office culminated a six-month undercover narcotics investigation today with the arrests of multiple defendants charged with illegal narcotics sales and related offenses.

At the request of Sheriff Darren Mitchum, the GBI State Drug Task Force initiated an undercover operation in July 2007 targeting narcotics distribution in Twiggs County. As a result, 14 persons are being sought on 22 arrest warrants for various violations of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, with an additional 14 arrests possible. Charges include sale of marijuana and cocaine. The remaining defendants will be sought in later arrest operations.

The State Drug Task Force conducted 38 undercover drug transactions during this investigation. One defendant has been charged with simple assault and destruction of government property for assaulting undercover agents.

Funding for this operation and the State Drug Task Force comes from grant funds awarded to the GBI by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia as part of the Byrne/JAG Grant. This program allows rural police agencies to receive personnel and financing for undercover counter-narcotics operations that are not possible otherwise.

Agencies participating in today's arrest operations include the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, the Jeffersonville Police Department, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the State Drug Task Force.

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