Pubdate: Fri, 17 Nov 2000
Source: Savannah Morning News (GA)
Copyright: 2000 Savannah Morning News
Contact:  http://www.savannahnow.com/
Forum: http://chat.savannahnow.com:90/eshare/
Author: Kate Wiltrout, Savannah Morning News

FIVE ARRESTED ON COCAINE CHARGES

Five agencies, four undercover agents and two years of investigation 
brought a big drug arrest this week in Toombs County.

Tuesday, local and state authorities arrested five residents of Lyons 
believed to be major cocaine suppliers to the region. Two of the five are 
brothers; two others are spouses. The fifth is already in state prison for 
unrelated crimes.

Lyons is no stranger to the drug trade. The town of about 2,000 is along 
U.S. 1, which has seen an increase in cocaine coming north from Miami as 
police crack down along Interstate 75 to Atlanta.

"It's kind of a hub for distribution. There's a lot of it coming in and 
going out," Robert Shore, deputy commander of the East Central Georgia Drug 
Task Force said. The pressure on I-75 has made U.S. 1 a preferred route, he 
said, and Augusta is seeing more and more cocaine traffic as a result.

There's also a lot of marijuana traffic in the area, Shore said, coming 
primarily from Texas. One of the men was also charged with possession with 
intent to distribute marijuana.

Local, state and federal agencies cooperated in the investigation, which is 
ongoing. On the local level, the Toombs County Sheriff's Office and the 
drug task force helped out. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Savannah 
office coordinated the investigation. And the Drug Enforcement Agency and 
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted as well.

"I couldn't even guess on the number of man hours that went into this," 
said Mike Fordham, the special agent in charge of the GBI's Savannah office.

Lyons Mayor John Moore Sr. said the town wasn't shocked.

"They're aware that this happening, and that it may take two years to get a 
solid case," he said.

Both of the families arrested have some legitimate business experience. One 
runs the Ponderosa Grocery, a small, old country store on Ga. 292 outside 
Lyons. Harden used to own a convenience store.

Shore said it was difficult to put a dollar value on the powder cocaine the 
five allegedly sold over the years, which he believes stayed in east 
central Georgia. The dealers probably didn't interact with many buyers, he 
said. But he's sure that street level buys will suffer.

"Prices may be affected," he said.
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