Muscogee County Sheriff details Operation Sweet Silence

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – After a large-scale operation that landed over 100 suspects, including gang members, in jail and stole millions of dollars worth of drugs from the streets of Columbus, the Muscogee County Sheriff is telling News Leader 9 more details about the operation.

Operation Sweet Silence began investigating illegal activities two years ago.

Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman says the impact of the incarceration of 101 suspects involved in drug and gang activity has yet to be felt given the recent arrests. But Countryman says that as the name of the operation suggests, “sweet silence” is needed. He wants others who may have been involved or other criminals to “not feel comfortable.”

“We will not give up. We will not stop until their criminal behavior stops,” Countryman said.

On Thursday, local, state and federal police descended on areas of Muscogee County to make arrests that had been nearly two years in the making.

“We have made significant reductions in gang activity, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We are in this for the long haul,” Countryman said.

It is part of an undercover operation by the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office called “Operation Sweet Silence.”

Nineteen of the 101 people were charged in federal court with alleged drug trafficking, gang membership and ties to a gang in Columbus.

12 people were taken into custody on state charges as part of the operation. Sheriff Countryman says Thursday's arrest will have a significant impact on the county in the area of ​​gang activity.

“We have arrested many of the actors who were in charge. Many actors with influence at the gang level. These individuals are at a point where they will remain for a long time because they were part of a criminal operation that destroyed the livelihoods and quality of life of so many citizens,” Countryman said.

The sheriff believes that the length of the operation should not deceive the others involved and urges them not to become complacent.

“We don't want them to settle down into comfortable situations just because they know who they are. Our job is to break up criminal activities involving gangs because we want a safer Muskogee, that's all. A better county where our citizens can enjoy their lives, and what's wrong with that,” Countryman said.

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