Deputy discovers $395K worth of meth in storage unit

A Cleveland man is in jail charged with drug trafficking following the discovery this afternoon of hundreds-of-thousands of dollars worth of meth. The drugs were found inside a storage unit in White County.

Authorities say a White County Sheriff’s deputy was completing a routine security check at the storage facility when he noticed a storage unit door was open. Concerned it had been burglarized, the deputy investigated further and found the illegal narcotics.

Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) SAC Mitchell Posey says ARDEO was called to assist with the investigation.

Authorities executed search warrants on the storage unit and recovered eight pounds of crystal methamphetamine and a stolen handgun, says Posey. They found $12,000 in the neighboring storage unit.

Officials also executed a search warrant at 55 Driskell Road in Cleveland. There they found additional evidence, according to Posey.

The street value of the illegal narcotics is $395,000.

Officers arrested 43-year-old Jason Scott Hawkins at the residence. They charged him with trafficking methamphetamine.

Hawkins was transported to the White County Detention Center.

This investigation continues. Authorities say additional arrests are expected.