Over $1.3 million in illegal drugs seized in bust by Muscogee sheriff’s office
An eight-month investigation conducted by the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office — with help from federal and local agencies — has led to the seizure of over $1.3 million in illegal drugs, the MCSO announced Thursday.
The MCSO, along with the GBI West Georgia Gang Task Force, Georgia State Patrol, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and DEA executed nine search warrants Monday in Columbus as part of Operation Hades, according to MCSO Sheriff Greg Countryman.
Countryman said Hades references the grave.
“As we move forward,” he said during the news conference at the MCSO, “we want to be able to bury drug-related crimes and other violent crimes. Together we did just that.”
The operation led to the arrests of 10 people, including Archie Zanders, who the sheriff’s office identified in a news release as the “drug trafficking leader.”
Countryman said the following items were seized in the operation:
108 pounds of marijuana (estimated street value of $481,810)
20 pounds of cocaine (estimated street value of $895,300)
78 grams of methamphetamine (estimated street value of $7,800)
158 oxycodone pills (estimated street value of $3,950)
117 ecstasy pills (estimated street value of $2,925)
11 firearms (including a fully automatic-capable 9mm Glock)
Six vehicles
$106,409 in U.S. currency
The following people were arrested:
Archie Zanders:
One count of trafficking cocaine
One count of trafficking marijuana
One count of trafficking methamphetamine
One count of trafficking ecstasy
Two counts of conspiracy to distribute
One count of possession of psilocybin with intent to distribute
One count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
One count of possession of a schedule II with intent to distribute - oxycodone
One count of possession of a schedule II with intent to distribute - morphine
One count of possession of firearm during the commission of a crime
One count of possession of firearm by a convicted felon
Christopher Mabry:
One count of trafficking cocaine
One count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Three counts of possession of firearm or knife during commission of a crime
One count of possession of a machine gun, dangerous weapon or silencer
Three counts of possession of firearm by convicted felon
One count of conspiracy to distribute
Hakeem Zanders:
One count of conspiracy to distribute
Two counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon
One count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime
One count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
One count of tampering with evidence
One count of possession of drug-related objects
Kenisha Miles:
One count of trafficking cocaine
One count of trafficking marijuana
One count of trafficking methamphetamine
One count of possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute - oxycodone
One count of possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent distribute - morphine
One count of possession and use of drug-related objects
One count of possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies
One count of drugs not in original container
Jama Zanders:
One count of trafficking cocaine
One count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Three counts of possession of firearm during commission of a crime
One count of possession of machine gun
Three counts of possession of firearm by convicted felon
Edward Watson III:
One count of trafficking cocaine
One count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Three counts of possession of firearm during commission of a crime
One count of possession of machine gun
Three counts of possession of firearm by convicted felon
Bobby Nelson:
One count of conspiracy to distribute
Earnestine Sumrell:
One count of trafficking ecstasy
One count of possession of schedule I with intent to distribute – psilocybin
One count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
One count of possession of firearm during the commission of a crime
Henry Royal:
One count of possession of firearm by a convicted felon
One count of possession of drug-related objects
Samantha Elders:
One count of excessive tint
One count of driving while license suspended or revoked
Six counts of contempt of court
One count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
Jeremy Dockins, GBI special agent in charge of the GBI West Georgia Gang Task Force, said the outcome of the investigation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the citizens.
“Your vigilance, your tips and your patience have played a crucial role in this investigation,” Dockins said.
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Don Kelly said, “We’re not stopping.”
“We are going to continue to root out the people like this organization who prey on folks in our community, who have a problem and make money off of that, and also bring violence to our community,” Kelly said.
Kelly said all those arrested in this case went through preliminary hearings Wednesday in Magistrate Court, with most of the cases being bound over to Superior Court without bond.
“Now we will start work in Superior Court on each of the individuals who were arrested,” Kelly said.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones called the drugs, guns and other items on the table in front of the podium the “product of the purveyors of misery.”
Jones said he’s pleased to work with Lee County’s west Georgia partners.
“This isn’t just a Columbus problem, this isn’t a Muscogee County problem, this is a regional problem,” Jones said.
“We do see a nexus between activities in this area, (the) Columbus, Georgia, area and in Lee County,” Jones said.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM.