Drug agents arrested eight people Wednesday morning in an operation targeting an alleged methamphetamine ring in the Savannah area. A ninth suspect was arrested Thursday.
Agents from the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team spread across the county to conduct a warrant arrest operation that brought in eight of 10 wanted individuals, said spokesman Gene Harley. A ninth turned himself in to authorities Thursday.
Home searches were conducted in the 2100 block of East 38th Street and in the 200 block of Sugar Mill Drive.
Agents seized two inactive methamphetamine labs from the Sugar Mill Drive address and evidence related to previous manufacturing of methamphetamine cooks at the residence on East 38th Street, Harley said. CNT agents also seized methamphetamine, firearms and one vehicle.
Officers arrested Jennifer “Chatham” Crawford, 34; Erik Hullum, 45; James Owens, 33; Christopher Spencer, 34; Melissa Velasquez, 44; Bobby Hughes, 35; Lauren Ginevan, 32; and Molly Crumpton-Pewett, 40, all of Savannah. Alexander Persons IV, 37, turned himself in after seeing he was wanted by police, Harley said.
CNT is asking the public to help find Zefani Moss, 33, who is wanted in connection to the investigation. CNT believes Moss is in the Atlanta area.
An eight-month investigation led to the operation, Harley said.
On Oct. 22, CNT executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1800 block of East 39th Street. During that search, agents encountered several children and one woman and safely removed them, Harley said.
Agents found a methamphetamine lab that appeared
to have been active recently and evidence that previous manufacturing had occurred inside the home, Harley said. The advanced laboratory included an air filtration system that expelled the toxic gases from the lab into the open air outside.
CNT determined the organization had bought or tried to buy more than 200 boxes of pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient needed to manufacture methamphetamine, Harley said.
In all, the organization obtained more than 480 grams of pseudoephedrine, he said. CNT determined the organization manufactured more than 436 grams of methamphetamine.
That number does not include any of the methamphetamine or methamphetamine labs seized in Wednesday’s operation. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected, Harley said.
Police ask anyone with information on Moss’ whereabouts to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020.