CNT MAKES "MAJOR" BUST

Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Commander Roy Harris announced
Tuesday the arrests of four men Sunday, taking 3 kilograms of cocaine
and 8 pounds of marijuana off the streets.

Harris said the suspects are accused of being part of a "major drug
distribution organization" spread over Chatham and Bryan counties. He
said the cocaine seizure will disrupt the local supply chain.

CNT arrested [redacted]

"All our information suggests it's very difficult to get cocaine in
the Savannah-Chatham area right now," Harris said. "We believe these
men were capable of dealing larger quantities than this."

The agents seized $110,000 in cash, seven guns and seven automobiles.
The cocaine had a street value of about $65,000. The marijuana was
valued at roughly $18,000, Harris said.

Both [redacted] are on parole, according to Department of
Corrections records.

Harris said investigators followed the men for nearly a year, but the
investigation was most active over the past three months.

Harris said CNT had help from several other law enforcement agencies.
At a Tuesday news conference, Harris was flanked by Savannah-Chatham
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief of Operations Willie Lovett, a
Georgia Bureau of Investigation official and county leaders.

Harris said those two law enforcement agencies, along with the federal
Drug Enforcement Agency, the Pooler Police Department, the Richmond
Hill Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff's Department and
the Bryan County Sheriff's Office helped arrest two of the suspects
Sunday and two others Tuesday.

He said the Georgia State Patrol and the Chatham County District
Attorney's Office also assisted in the long-term investigation.

County Manager Russ Abolt praised Harris, who took over CNT on April
28.

"CNT is a unified effort," Abolt said. "We are at a very strong
manning level right now, though we are down 10 men. Roy has the
ability to get the most out of everyone, and that's truly because of
teamwork."

CNT agents displayed the marijuana, cocaine, guns and bags of money
atop a conference room table. The aroma of marijuana filled the room
as Harris took questions from local media.

He said contraband displays like Tuesday's are meant to show the
public what CNT is doing and to encourage the public's
participation.

"We're very much proud of our men and women ... who work in undercover
roles," Harris said. "I get calls from people in the public telling us
about drug activity, and that's extremely helpful. Together we have to
do this sort of work. We have to work with the public."

Harris expects additional arrests as the investigation continues.