Local, state and federal authorities have apprehended more than 20 people in the Golden Triangle area over the last two days on drug-related charges.
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Starkville Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, Mississippi Highway Patrol and Columbus Police Department were all involved in a year-long investigation into drug dealing primarily in Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, said Jamaal Thompson, Supervisor of the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Nineteen suspects are in the custody of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office on drug-related charges. Another 3 suspects are in the custody of the Starkville Police Department.
The arrests began Tuesday and carried on into Wednesday, assisted by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, according to a press release from the Lowndes County Narcotics Division. The various suspects were arrested for selling everything from methamphetamines to synthetic cannabinoids and marijuana to prescription drugs.
Deputies are still searching for another 20 or so suspects alleged to have dealt or used drugs in the Lowndes County area, Lowndes Narcotics Unit Captain Archie Williams told The Dispatch Monday. When done, authorities expect to make about 40 arrests, one of the larger round-ups the LCSO Narcotics Unit has made in the last couple of years, Williams said.
“Using confidential informants, undercover operations, we managed to get in, get to know these folks, actually make purchases of narcotics from them,” Williams said.
The arrests stem from a year-long investigation into drug distribution in Columbus and Lowndes County, Williams said. While all 40 suspects are not connected through any one organization, some of the suspects arrested made up smaller connected groups, he said.
“Within that 40, there are definitely small groups that were or are connected, but as far as the whole bunch being one big organization, no,” Williams said.
He added though the investigation is complete, authorities will continue looking for violators.
Many of the suspects were arrested for selling prescription drugs, Williams said. Those drugs included Adderall, Xanax and oxycodone, as well as alprazolam, which is found in Xanax tablets; Diazepam, an anti-anxiety medication; clonazepam, which is used to treat seizures or panic disorder; and hydrocodone, which is used in some pain medications.
“That’s a big thing now, prescription drug abuse,” Williams said. “We have a lot of prescription drugs that are being sold on the streets just like your marijuana or cocaine or what have you.”
During the round up, authorities also arrested five suspects on warrants issued by the Mississippi Department of Corrections which were unrelated to the narcotics investigation.
Some of the suspects have previous felony charges, including assault and drug charges.
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