Drug lab found in Cherokee County home, 2 arrested, deputies say

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - Cherokee County deputies have arrested a 72-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man accused of being major players in a drug trafficking organization in the county.

Authorities say the arrests come at the end of a two-month investigation into the distribution and sale of methamphetamine in Cherokee County.

Lynette De Becker and James Aldred both face multiple charges, including:

• Trafficking in methamphetamine (x2)
• Trafficking in fentanyl (x2)
• Manufacturing methamphetamine
• Manufacturing fentanyl
• Sale of methamphetamine
• Sale of Schedule 1 Narcotic
• Possession of marijuana with intent to Distribute

On April 19, agents and a Cherokee SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a home near Holly Springs. 

James Aldred (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

In the search, deputies say they found a methamphetamine conversion lab.

"The drugs are shipped here in a liquid form and a conversion lab turns it into a solid for distribution," explained Capt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  

Officers said in all, they recovered 17 pounds of methamphetamine laced with fentanyl.

(Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

"If you think about the fact that it takes one ounce for a trafficking charge, I mean, even an ounce is a lot, so this is—there's 16 ounces in a pound and this is 17 pounds," said Capt. Baker. "So, this is a large bust and very happy that our agents were able to get it off the streets here."

In total, authorities estimated the drugs had a street value of over $750,000.

"Our agents are seeing a terrifying trend in street and counterfeit drugs laced with fentanyl.  Drug dealers are purposely mixing fentanyl in cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to increase the original drugs' potency, greatly increasing one’s risk of an overdose," Director of Drug Enforcement for the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad Major Walter Jones said in a statement. "I am grateful for the tenacity of our investigators, as they put their lives at risk daily, trying to rid our streets of this poison."

Lynnette De Becker (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

Aldred and De Becker remain in custody without bond.

Investigators believe other arrests may be possible as the investigation continues.