March 8, 2006
Tift County - Officers with the DEA, GBI, GSP and Tift S.O. roll out to get drugs O-F-F streets. "That would certainly be our hope," says GBI Agent-in-Charge Mike Lewis.
For five months, undercover drug agents with the GBI have been buying drugs from small time dealers, and working their way up to the big guys. "It grew into something we didn't anticipate, but we are very happy with where it lead us to and the people it lead us to," says Sheriff Gary Vowell.
One of those people? 32-year old Reginald Eugene Ford. Agent Lewis says, "We were very fortunate to get one of the major dealers in the county and I think we took down two complete distribution networks."
Networks that apparently contain more than 60 suspects. 30 of them were arrested before noon Wednesday. "Hopefully it's going to give the citizens a little relief from the street drug dealers here," says Lewis.
And send a strong message to keep others from going choosing the same path. Sheriff Vowell says, "Hopefully this will send a message to kids that this is the end result if you get messed up in drugs."
But if you already are, watch out, he says this isn't the last major bust. "Oh no," says Vowell. "We'll get you."
Officers began the drug sting around 5 AM Wednesday morning and are still working. They have about 30 arrests warrants remaining.
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