Police Arrest 4 As Part of Efforts To Stem Heroin Supply

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Narcotics agents recently arrested two residents in Cherokee County in an attempt to thwart the flow of heroin and other drugs throughout north metro Atlanta.

Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, or CMANS, agents last week arrested Katherine Silva, 25, of Kennesaw and charged her with trafficking heroin and sale of heroin. She remains at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center with no bond.

Agents received information that Silva was allegedly “a source of heroin in south Cherokee County,” CMANS said in a press release. Agents conducted an undercover operation in which Silva allegedly sold heroin to a CMANS agent.

Silva was arrested by agents, who also seized more than six grams of heroin.

In recent months, CMANS has reached out to the Marietta-Cobb-Smyrna Drug Task Force, Atlanta Police Zone 1 Field Investigation Team and the Atlanta Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in the agency’s attempts to curb the amount of heroin coming into the county.

Atlanta’s Zone 1 area includes the part of the city known as The Bluff, a well-known area where heroin is bought and sold on an alarmingly high basis.

“These open lines of communication are critical to addressing the increased flow of heroin into the north metro area,” CMANS added.

See also:

• CMANS Agents Arrest 3 on Drug Charges
• Sandy Springs Police Break Up Heroin Operation
• Police: Woodstock Man Was “Major Source” of Heroin in Cherokee

Using their contacts, CMANS was able to execute a search warrant at Silva’s Kennesaw apartment, and also arrested two residents who were allegedly Silva’s supply source in Atlanta.

Atlanta police raided a room at a hotel in the downtown area and arrested 29-year-old Erik Standley and Blayk Williams, 26. These two arrests resulted in the seizure of about $1,300 in cash and one-third of a pound of heroin.

The next day, agents arrested Marcquita Tyshell Holder, 26, of Decatur, after she allegedly brought 91 OxyContin pills to Cherokee County to sell to an undercover agent. Along with the drugs, Holder allegedly brought along two handguns and a stun gun.

Holder was initially unknown to Cherokee County narcotics agents until about two weeks ago when the parents of a man who died from a drug overdose came forward with information they discovered after their son’s death.

Agents were able to contact Holder and set up a meeting.

“It is unusual for a dealer to respond to a contact from someone they don’t already know, but CMANS agents were tenacious in pressing to meet Holder,” the agency said.

Holder was charged with sale of a schedule II narcotic, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies and drug sales within 1,000 feet of a school. Holder is also being held at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center with no bond.

The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad is a joint task force working in Cherokee County to investigate drug related violations.

Participating agencies include the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Canton Police Department, Woodstock Police Department, Holly Springs Police Department, Ball Ground Police Department, Cherokee County Marshal’s Office, District Attorney’s Office for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia State Patrol.

Citizens may call in tips anonymously to (770) 345-7920, or may speak to an agent by calling (678) 493-7625.

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Photo: from left, Katherine Silva and Marcquita Tyshell Holder. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff’s Office