During a recent press conference, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of a drug trafficking organization in Washington County, as part of "Operation King of the Hill." Friday.
Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews called it one of the largest methamphetamine operations in the county's history during the press briefing.
"In March of 2025, the Washington County Sheriff's Office in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched an extensive investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine within Washington County," he said.
AG James Uthmeier joins Sheriff Crews and Commissioner Glass in Chipley to Announce a Drug Trafficking Takedown https://t.co/OAwXwUUCMX
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) September 11, 2026
Two traffickers spent the last 16 months running 50 to 70 pounds of meth from the Atlanta area to the Florida panhandle and Washington County.
Investigators found that the two were the main suppliers of meth to eastern and central Washington County, according to Crews.
State troopers stopped the traffickers on their way back from Georgia and found three pounds of meth inside the car in June after suspecting the two Washington County residents were making a trafficking trip.
The arrests led investigators to bigger dealers in North Georgia, who were also arrested.
"I think this is probably going to be, in the history of our county, as far as methamphatime is concerned, it's going to be probably the biggest one we've been able to do," Crews said about the bust. "To get enough evidence to charge those two guys in North Georgia is a big deal."
He added that several other dealers in the county were identified as part of the operation, and said arresting them is their next project.
"Just because we don't show up this month to arrest you," he said to the dealers. "If you're going to continue to do what you do, I wouldn't let your guard down."
Uthmeier called the operation a major takedown and said Florida has some of the greatest sheriffs in the country.
"We get the job done," Uthmeier said. "Within just a year and a half, we have been able to shut down the border; we've prosecuted some big cases; the legislature has given us enhancements to levy out stiffer penalties, and as a result, fentanyl cases are down around 75%."
