Banks County announces arrests of 'major suppliers of drugs'

HOMER - The Banks County Sheriff's Office announced Friday the arrest of two men believed to be major drug suppliers to the northeast Georgia region.

"The Banks County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Mountain Judicial Circuit NCIS [Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression] Team, conducted a drug operation that netted over three pounds of methamphetamine and almost a quarter pound of cocaine," said Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson on Friday.

The Atlanta men, identified as 26-year-old Jose Bibiano-Gonzaga and 27-year-old Francisco Gerardo, are both charged with trafficking methamphetamine and trafficking cocaine.

The men were arrested on Aug. 6, in the Baldwin area of Banks County, but due to the ongoing investigation, details of the arrests were not released until Aug. 16.

"The two alleged drug traffickers are being held at the Banks County Law Enforcement Center and are believed to have been major suppliers of drugs to the northeast Georgia region," Wilson said.