Traffic stop on Highway 49 leads to major drug and gun arrest in Jones County

JONES COUNTY, Georgia – A routine traffic stop Saturday night turned into a significant drug and firearms arrest after a Jones County deputy uncovered multiple illegal narcotics and weapons inside a pickup truck.

On January 17, while on patrol along Highway 49, Sgt. Travis Walker with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office ran the license plate of a red Ford F-150 and discovered the vehicle’s registration was suspended. Sgt. Walker initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as 23-year-old Emmanuel Andrade-Rivas.

During the stop, Andrade-Rivas told deputies that he did not have a valid driver’s license and advised there was a firearm inside the vehicle. He was removed from the truck and detained. Andrade-Rivas also admitted there was marijuana inside the vehicle.

Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the truck and located multiple illegal narcotics, including several small bags of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, a bag of fentanyl, a bottle containing MDMA pills, and a jar containing marijuana.

The search also uncovered two firearms, one of which had its serial number scratched off, along with drug paraphernalia including smoking pipes and a digital scale commonly used to weigh narcotics.

Based on deputies’ training and experience, the quantity of drugs, the way they were packaged, and the presence of scales indicated the narcotics were intended for distribution rather than personal use.

Andrade-Rivas was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute and additional related offenses. Deputies seized the vehicle, currency, narcotics, firearms, and all contraband, which were transported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office as evidence.