Houston County law enforcement agencies join regional drug, gang task force

Sheriff Matt Moulton says the effort will strengthen investigations into drug trafficking and gang activity across multiple jurisdictions.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Houston County law enforcement agencies are joining a regional drug and gang task force to target crimes that cross county lines.  

The task force connects the Houston County sheriff’s Office and the Warner Robins and Perry police departments.

Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton says it will help cut down on crime and help locals who suffer from drug addiction. 

“It is headed up by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; they’re not new to this,” he said. “The GBI has operated a drug task force for years and years throughout Georgia in areas where drug enforcement is needed, but agencies didn’t have the manpower to fill a drug unit or resources to do those types of drug investigations,” he said.

Moulton says the GBI took command of the Oconee and Ocmulgee Task Force and combined them to create one large force. Sheriff Moulton says there has been a drug problem throughout Houston County and believes this task force will put a stop to drug trafficking.

“The drug dealers and traffickers don’t obey county lines or city limit lines,” he said. “So being able to work out of the task force, in partnership with these other agencies, is going to greatly enhance our ability for drug investigation.”

Moulton believes it’s what the county needs.

“I have seen the drug use go from a misdemeanor marijuana use, all the way up to heroin and fentanyl,” he said. “We have a lot of fentanyl overdoses, opioid related overdoses in Houston County. So, the need for drug investigations, the need for resources to be able to conduct those types of investigations is very important.”

Moulton says once their investigator attached to the task force gets approved by the GBI to serve, they will start working with the force full-time.