A pair of searches Tuesday by drug agents in Demorest and Cleveland netted $7,000 worth of heroin, which in turn helped authorities break up a drug ring that is believed to be responsible for trafficking $100,000 worth of heroin in Habersham, White and Banks counties.
The leader of the operation, Michelle Dawn "Cinnamon" Dorsey, 45, of Demorest, was taken into custody, along with two other suspects, all charged with trafficking heroin, according to a news release from the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
Tyler Josiah "Big 'un" Matthews, 26, of Cleveland is in incustody, while Nigel Alan Waddell, 28, of Cornelia faces an additional charge of marijuana possession along with the trafficking charge.
Authorities believe the heroin is related to a series of overdoses in the surrounding counties.
The two search warrants were executed at a home on Twin River Orchard Road in Demorest and a home on Highway 255 South in Cleveland.
The arrests were the culmination of an 18-month investigation, officials said.
All three suspects were booked into the Habersham County Detention Center.
