Operation Sweet Silence: Over 100 Arrested and $279 Million in Drugs Seized in Major Multi-Agency Crackdown
A significant law enforcement operation, known as Operation Sweet Silence, culminated on September 12, 2024, resulting in 101 arrests and the seizure of an estimated $279,490,520.80 in illegal drugs. This extensive operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies.
Over the past two years, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office has worked in lockstep with the FBI and the DEA to go after some very dangerous gang members.
“I am truly grateful for the working relationships we have fostered over the past three years with our federal partners. Collectively, we have leveraged the strength of our combined resources to investigate criminal enterprises that involved cartels, dangerous validated gang members, and large-scale drug operations. This case had a huge footprint in Muscogee County”, said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman, “This operation highlights our lack of tolerance for Zohannon gang members, Crips gang members, and other gang organizations to set up shop in Muscogee County or any neighboring county. We will not allow criminals to have their way and trample on the quality of life that our citizens have worked so hard to enjoy.”
The agencies that participated in the operation included:
- Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office
- Department of Justice U.S. Marshal
- Harris County Sheriff’s Office
- Coweta County Sheriff’s Office
- Georgia State Patrol
- Phenix City Police Department (Alabama)
- Russell County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama)
- Lee County Sheriff’s Office (Alabama)
- FBI
- DEA
- U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
The operation led to the execution of 126 search warrants and the confiscation of 155 firearms. The seized drugs and their estimated street values are as follows:
- 496 pounds of methamphetamine – $22,458,880.00
- 57.21 kilos of cocaine (126.95 pounds) – $5,748,296.00
- 7.1 kilos of fentanyl (15.62 pounds) – $707,273.60
- 25,094 kilos of marijuana (55,248 pounds) – $250,162,944.00
- 1.3 kilos (2.89 pounds) of heroin – $130,859.20
- 2,677.2 grams of GHB (5.9 pounds) – $267,152.00
- 755.8 grams of mushrooms – $15,116.00
The operation represents a major disruption to criminal activities in the region. Authorities have emphasized their commitment to ongoing efforts and warned that further operations will continue to target criminal enterprises.
