GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – A joint law enforcement operation involving agencies in North Carolina and Georgia has resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with the arrest of two individuals on trafficking charges.

According to authorities, officers with the Union County Safe Street Task Force, Cherokee County Narcotics Division, and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted a coordinated investigation targeting suspected drug traffickers operating throughout the region. The operation also involved assistance from law enforcement agencies in Fannin County and Union County, Georgia.

During the investigation, officers deployed Gilmer County’s newest K-9, Ruckus, who assisted investigators as part of the operation.

Authorities reported recovering more than three ounces of methamphetamine and approximately one-half ounce of fentanyl before the narcotics could be distributed in communities across North Carolina and Georgia. Investigators said the drugs were destined for areas including Cherokee County, North Carolina, Union County, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

As a result of the operation, Forest Shane Lynn and Starla Normand were arrested on June 22, 2026, and charged with trafficking narcotics.

Sheriff Dustin Dyer commended the collaborative effort among the participating agencies, emphasizing the importance of regional partnerships in combating illegal drug trafficking.

“We are proud to continue working alongside our neighboring agencies to identify and stop those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities,” Dyer said in a statement. “This seizure is a direct result of strong interagency cooperation, dedicated investigators, and valuable information provided by the public. There is no doubt these narcotics would have made their way onto the streets of Cherokee County, Union County, and beyond had they not been intercepted.”

Dyer also highlighted the role of community members in assisting law enforcement investigations, noting that public tips remain a vital tool in identifying known drug traffickers and disrupting criminal organizations operating throughout the region.

Law enforcement officials from Cherokee County, North Carolina, as well as Gilmer, Fannin and Union counties in Georgia, said they remain committed to working together to target the trafficking of illegal narcotics and protect residents from the dangers associated with drug distribution.