38 people arrested in major Houston County drug investigation

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Law enforcement officers in Houston County have arrested 38 people on drug-related charges over the last 40 days, according to Houston County District Attorney William Kendall.

15 of those people face charges for trafficking fentanyl.

Lt. Matthew Moulton with the Houston County Sheriff’s office said in a news conference that fentanyl’s appeal revolves around its cost relative to its potency. “You can buy a kilo of fentanyl for about $4,000. A kilo of heroin costs about $52,000, so it makes sense why drug dealers are introducing fentanyl into these drugs,” says Moulton. He also added that the drug is more potent than heroin and produces a stronger high, which could keep drug users coming back and keep drug dealers in business.

Victims who have been impacted as part of the investigation represent a cross-section of the community. Some people have been in lower-income areas and others have been in gated communities, and their ages have ranged from 15 to 70-years old, according to Kendall.

“We have knocked on too many doors and woke up mommas and daddies to tell them that their child had died as a result of overdosing on drugs,” says Houston County Coroner James Williams.

Victims experiencing fentanyl overdoses is something the county has tried to combat, starting with a mass distribution of the medicine Narcan to first responders six months ago. Kendall says responders have had to administer the medicine on 17 different occasions. 10 of those victims were able to recover from life-threatening symptoms, which include low or no heart rate, respiratory issues, or no breath at all. Two police officers had to have the medicine administered to them after being exposed to the drug during a house call.

Officers also confiscated 19 firearms, more than $42,000 in cash, marijuana, methamphetamines, MDMA, and cocaine.

Kendall says if you’re a drug trafficker in Middle Georgia, they’re coming after you. “We’re gonna lock you up, I’m going to prosecute you, and you’re going to prison,” says Kendall, who says he also has plans to work with school districts to combat the use and selling of drugs in the county.

The partnership includes the Houston County District Attorney, law enforcement agencies, including the Warner Robins Police Department, the Perry Police Department, the Houston County Coroner, and the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia