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In the last year, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office’s STING Unit seized more than 12 pounds of methamphetamine, eight pounds of cocaine and nearly three pounds of fentanyl while investigating federal-level cases.
In state cases, the unit made 115 drug-related arrests across 201 cases, earning it the title of Mississippi Narcotics Officers Association’s 2025 Narcotics Team of the Year last week, a LCSO press release said.
“We have made some very good strides in our community by dismantling some key organizations moving drugs, and we’ve made some significant arrests,” Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said of the honor.
But after raids have ended, what happens to the drug evidence? When the investigation is finished, are the drugs destroyed? What about other types of evidence?
What happens to drugs the moment they’re seized?
Whether it’s during an organized raid or a routine traffic stop, Hawkins said deputies are responsible for bringing seized drugs back to the sheriff’s office to be logged into evidence.
From there, the evidence is taken to the Columbus Forensics Lab, where drugs are chemically tested to confirm the type of drug and its weight before returning to the evidence vault at the sheriff’s office.
“They do a test on it to positively identify what the drug is – whether it’s cocaine or fentanyl or methamphetamine – and the quantity of the drugs,” Hawkins said. “(That’s because) sentencing guidelines can vary depending on the weight of the drugs.”
Under Mississippi law, penalties for drug crimes increase based on both drug type and weight, with trafficking charges carrying mandatory prison sentences. For example, trafficking methamphetamine or cocaine can be charged once possession exceeds 30 grams, which carries a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years and up to a $1 million fine.
How long are drugs kept as evidence?
Drugs remain in evidence at LCSO until the district attorney’s office introduces them as an exhibit during the case trial. At that point, custody of the evidence shifts to the court.
“They hold and maintain the drugs until the appeal process is over,” Hawkins said. “Once the appeals process is over, then … they get a destruction order, and we send them down to Jackson for destruction.”
Hawkins said the director for Mississippi’s Bureau of Narcotics is responsible for reviewing all of the records tied to the evidence and signing off on the destruction.
“By state law, there’s only one way that drugs can legally be destroyed, and that’s through MBN,” Hawkins said. “They have an incinerator at headquarters. … I think that thing burns at like 2,000 degrees.”
From the moment the drugs are seized until they are destroyed, Hawkins said the chain of custody is meticulously recorded throughout each transfer.
What about other types of evidence?
While illegal drugs must be destroyed by MBN, other types of evidence follow a similar chain of custody, remaining secured by law enforcement or the court until a case is resolved and a judge issues a final ruling, including weapons used in the commission of a crime.
After the trial, the court issues a ruling on whether the weapon will be forfeited or destroyed.
“If it’s destroyed, then we get a destruction order,” Hawkins said. “… Usually on stuff like that, we’d melt them down.”
In rare cases – such as when the vehicle is used in the commission of a crime or is purchased using proceeds from illegal activity – Hawkins said the evidence goes through a forfeiture process in court. If the judge rules the property forfeited, ownership is transferred to the sheriff’s office.
“If the court declares that vehicle property of the sheriff’s office, once it’s declared forfeited property, we then technically put it on our inventory and then surplus it off our inventory,” Hawkins said. “And that vehicle has to be auctioned off.”
Seized vehicles may also be repurposed for law enforcement use, depending on their condition, he said.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
