Houston County Sheriff’s Office, police departments join combined task force to reduce drug trafficking and gang violence

HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies have now joined a combined task force that will target drug trafficking and gang violence. 

Sheriff Matt Moulton said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken command of the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, previously based in Milledgeville, and the Oconee Drug Task Force, based in Eastman. Both will combine with the Macon Gang Task Force into one multi-jurisdictional drug task force and gang task force. 

This includes about 14 different law enforcement agencies in middle Georgia, Moulton said. The Warner Robins Police Department and Perry Police Department will also participate. 

He shared GBI has its leadership team in place, including a special agent and an assistant special agent. An investigator will operate under the task force to assist HCSO and other agencies as needed. 

Moulton said this will benefit the sheriff’s office by allowing them to expand their force from a six-man narcotics unit to approximately 30. He shared that extra personnel are needed on certain investigations. 

The Warner Robins Police Department will be assigned two officers, and the Perry Police Department one, according to documents. 

Moulton also shared that the partnership will bring additional funding to Houston County to conduct various investigations, helping to relieve taxpayers’ burden.

He said drug trafficking and activity are a problem in Houston County. He shared that drug traffickers do not follow county lines or city limit signs; they operate everywhere. 

In some cases, law enforcement faces obstacles like jurisdictional issues. This partnership will erase lines and allow them to pursue drug traffickers wherever they are. 

According to Moulton, there has not been an increase in drugs and gang violence in the county; however, the numbers remain steady. 

“Any effort that we can make to reduce the supply and demand in Houston County for illegal control substances, it is a benefit to the sheriff’s office as well as the citizens of Houston County for us to take those opportunities,” he said. 

The investigator assigned to HCSO has been selected and will begin the background process with the GBI, a two to three-week process, according to Moulton. Once he has been approved, he will join the task force. 

Moulton shared that he likes the idea of the “force multiplier” and being able to tap into additional resources when conducting investigations. 

Moulton thanked GBI Director Chris Hosey and Governor Brian Kemp for their vision and leadership in recognizing the need for the task force. He said he appreciates their willingness to involve the sheriff’s office and looks forward to improvements. 

“The ultimate goal is to disrupt and dismantle any organization that traffics illegal controlled substances here in Houston County,” Moulton said. “The long term goal is to continue making Houston County the safest community for us to worship, raise a family, work and play. That’s the goal.”