WEEKEND STING NETS 70 ARRESTS

CHESTER - Chester County Sheriff's Department officials reported that
they arrested 70 people during the weekend in the largest drug bust
in county history.

Friday proved to be the most fruitful day of Operation Genesis, when
law enforcement officers made more than 50 arrests and netted $50,000
in crack cocaine, $9,000 in cash, three vehicles, 4 ounces of
marijuana and $20,000 in additional property, including a number of
firearms and cellular phones.

"This was great for morale," said Chester County Detention Center
Administrative Lt. Eric Schmid. "We were put under a lot of stress
this weekend, but we pulled together and operated like a team."

Officers with the Chester County Drug Enforcement Unit simultaneously
raided five houses at 6:30 a.m. Friday. Officers then spent the rest
of the weekend searching for more than 90 individuals charged with
drugs offenses ranging from distribution to simple possession.

Sheriff Robby Benson said his department had been conducting the
undercover operation since he took office in January. Part of his
political platform was to reduce the county's drug problem and crime
rate.

Other agencies that participated in the drug bust included Union
Public Safety, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department, Winnsboro
Public Safety and the S.C. Department of Probation and Parole in York
and Chester counties.

According to the Chester County Sheriff's Department, about 20 more
arrests are expected to be made before the operation is complete.