Lauderdale County deputies joined law enforcement from a variety of state, federal and local agencies on Tuesday as a years-long investigation yielded more than 40 arrests under 10 federal indictments. Arrests were made in Lauderdale, Newton, Neshoba, Scott and Jasper counties, as well as Texas, Alabama, California and Mexico.

“The persons arrested today were engaged in trafficking major quantities of dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee at a press conference Tuesday announcing the arrests. “They peddle this poison for profit affecting the lives of so many.”

Throughout the investigation, Gee said, officers have been able to seize large amounts of drugs, cash and firearms and keep them off the streets, and even more was seized during the arrests.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said the interstate arrests and seizure of dangerous drugs began in 2017 with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics’ Operation Unfinished Business, which was a partnership with Homeland Security. The investigation, he said, spanned multiple state and federal administrations and is an example of what can be accomplished when politics is left out of law enforcement.

“When you keep politics out of public safety you can work hand in hand with your federal partners, your local partners, multiple administrations, their different elected officials that come in and out of office,” he said, “But these operations continue, and it’s the men and women on the front line of MBN and other law enforcement agencies that keep these efforts moving forward.”

Tindell said he was glad for the opportunity to work with Gee and work together to take dangerous drugs and illegal firearms off the street.

“It’s been an inspiration to work with the new U.S. Attorney’s office in his efforts to help not only get drugs off our streets but also illegal firearms, and I know that is going to be a major focus for him going forward, and we’re going to work hand in hand with him in those efforts,” he said.

Sheriff Ward Calhoun said much of the crime Lauderdale County experiences is tied to drugs in some way, and Tuesday’s arrests will help make the community that much safer.

Calhoun said he wanted to recognize the members of the East Mississippi Drug Task Force who put in the long hours needed to reach this point in the investigation. Knowing someone is selling drugs isn’t enough, he said, and good police work is needed to build strong, prosecutable cases that can be brought to a grand jury.

“The East Mississippi Drug Task Force has worked hard now for years, tirelessly working long hours, weekends, nights, doing different activities to put this together that you have heard spans not only our country but into Mexico, right here from Lauderdale County,” he said.

While law enforcement has put in the hours, Calhoun said the community also plays a crucial part in the fight against crime. Whether it’s calling the local police department or calling a federal agency’s hotline, he said, law enforcement depends on the community and its support.

“Without you working with us, we can’t do these types of activities,” he said. “We can’t have these successful investigations.”

And to those involved in drug trafficking, shooting or other crimes in Lauderdale County, Calhoun said Tuesday’s arrests should serve as notice that his department is coming.

“If you sell drugs, illegal drugs, if you want to shoot and kill people in this community, we are going to come after you,” he said. “We are not going to give up. It may take us years, but we will come after you. Keep your activities up, and you’re going to get to know us if you don’t already.”

Newton County Sheriff Joedy Pennington said he too wanted to share his thanks to all involved in the investigation. Tuesday, he said, was a good day for Newton County.

“Almost every major drug dealer in Newton County was taken to jail this morning,” he said.

In a news release following the announcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said those arrested include Tavia Armstrong, 32, of Meridian; Alyssia Boose, 32, of Newton; Billy Boose, 46, of Newton; Fred Campbell, 49, of Meridian; Jacoby Clayton, 29, of Meridian; Mario Cole, 37, of Meridian; Bobby Coleman, 35, of Union; George Collier, 46, of Pelahatchie; Christopher Evans, 47, of Union; Tabbgrinn Graham, 33, of Decatur; James Green, 52, of Meridian; Cassady Harris, 37, of Union; Yvette Herring, 45, of Riverside, California; Dakota Holt, 32, of Meridian; Edward House, 46, of Meridian; Jeffery Jennings, 40, of Meridian; James Johnson, 50, of Louin; Cedric Jones, 52, of Houston, Texas; Lajason Jones, 43, of Decatur; Markee Jones, 44, of Meridian; Nathan Kendricks, 46, of Meridian; Kevin King, 41, of Meridian; Todrian Laphand, 30, of Meridian; John Little, 31, of Meridian; Nicholas Massey, 35, of Decatur; Kenneth McCurdy, 43, of Forest; Jeffery Murrell, 54, of Newton; Johnny Patton, 42, of Quitman; Darius Powell, 35, of Meridian; Marcus Powell, 38, of Meridian; Raykeitdgrith Ricks, 41, of Lawrence; Znthony Ruffin, 38, of Toomsuba; Dustin Jamal Russell, 33, of Newton; Steven Savell, 48, of Union; Carlos Seals, 42, of Meridian; Brandon Slaughter, 31, Meridian; Jacorie Smith, 27, of Meridian; Curtis Spivey, 39, of Philadelphia; Billy Wilson, 52, of Cuba, Alabama; and Crisseta Woods, 46, of Union.

Gee said more people are named in the 10 indictments and have yet to be arrested. The indictments, he said, should be unsealed in the next day or two.

Initial court appearances for the defendants were scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Agencies involved in the investigation and arrests include Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the East Mississippi Drug Task Force and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Alabama 17th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Decatur Police Department, Union Police Department, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Mississippi Commercial Truck Enforcement Division, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Mississippi Department of Corrections.