Over $64K worth of drugs seized
Three alleged drug traffickers are in jail following busts in Alto and Cleveland.
Officials executed a search warrant Wednesday at the home of James Hood at 7455 Old Cornelia Highway. During their search, authorities say they found approximately 519 grams of crystal methamphetamine and $9,525 in cash.
They also found a .380 caliber handgun hidden under the couch cushion, according to Mitchell Posey. Posey is the Special Agent in Charge of the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) in Cleveland. He says the street value of the drugs is $57,000.
ARDEO agents and officers from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Hall County Sheriff’s Office Multi Agency Narcotics Squad took part in the operation.
“The search warrant was the culmination of a one month joint investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Habersham and Hall Counties along with various other surrounding counties,” Posey says.
Hood, age 33, was arrested along with 32-year-old Jessica Martinez of Homer and 36-year-old Charles Freeman of Cornelia. Hood and Martinez are both charged with trafficking methamphetamine. In addition, Hood is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Freeman is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Hood and Freeman were transported to the Habersham County Detention Center. Martinez was transported to the Hall County Detention Center.
Suspicious vehicle leads to suspect
A day earlier, in Cleveland, ARDEO agents teamed up with the Cleveland Police Department to nab another suspected drug trafficker.
On Aug. 28, authorities responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at a local business on Hwy. 128 South. There they met up with 39-year-old Kevin McDuffie of Cleveland. Posey says agents found 65 grams of crystal methamphetamine in McDuffie’s pants pocket.
The street value of the drugs is $7,150.
McDuffie was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine. He was transported to the White County Detention Center. Posey says additional charges are pending.
