Updated: Jan 21, 2022
A local man is now in custody after police seized 14 ounces of meth, estimated to be about $6,500 in street value, around 7 a.m. Friday morning at an address of 144 Arden Drive.
In addition to the methamphetamine, Larry Maurice Corley was also found to be in possession of cocaine and marijuana.
Swainsboro Police Department’s patrol, drug, and canine units were involved in the warrant execution, which culminated an investigation that spanned seven weeks.
A second search warrant was also executed at 580 Rentz Street.
Chief Randy Ellison explained about the simultaneous action, “We got information about Mr. Corley splitting time staying at both residences, and we were told drugs were being distributed out of both addresses. When the residences were hit, the suspect was, of course, located at the one on Arden Drive.”
At the time of officers’ arrival, Corley was found exiting the residence from the back. He was taken into custody without incident.
The amount of drugs seized was enough to assign trafficking charges to the 35-year-old from Swainsboro.
“We seized marijuana as well as a substance we believe to be crystal methamphetamine. A search of the residence resulted in the canine being deployed, and the dog alerted on a package located at the residence that had obviously recently been placed there. It contained 400 grams of methamphetamine, which is almost a pound.”
During the process, investigators also found some 50 grams of powder cocaine and 11 grams of crack cocaine. Twenty-eight grams are required to form a federal trafficking case. The cocaine alone without the meth exceeded that limit, hence the trafficking charges Corley received.
There were no weapons recovered at the scene, although officials say they were informed the suspect was at one time in possession of a firearm.
According to Chief Ellison, the results of the bust are a huge success for the department as the drug issues plaguing the community are far-reaching. He provided passionate comments about removing this amount of drugs from the local area.
“He is definitely one of the larger distributors we’ve ever taken down here at this police department. You’re talking 14 ounces, almost a pound of meth. That’s a lot.
“When you think about a simple possession case, most people have a gram or two. This is tenfold that. He’s obviously a big distributor in this area.
“A person is innocent until proven guilty and the court system still has to look at the case, but the sheer weight... It’s a big deal. In addition to that, these very drugs are ruining people’s lives around here, and if we can remove them from the streets and hold the people who deal them accountable, that’s what we’re going to do.”
