LOUIN — The alleged leader of a major drug operation in Jasper County is behind bars.

Jasper County Sheriff Kenneth Cross said officials were able this week to get search warrants for two Jasper County residents east of Louin believed to have been involved in a longtime drug operation. As a result of the search warrants, Cross said five people were taken into custody. However, only two were charged in connection with the drug operations.

Frontrell Myers, 36, of the Louin community and his mother, Ruby Myers, were arrested after officers found a large amount of drugs — marijuana and cocaine — several stolen items and a large quantity of money.

Cross said thousands of dollars, chain saws, guns, a stolen John Deere Gator, vehicles and drugs — estimated at approximately $1 million — were seized in the search of two houses on County Road 168 east of Louin in Jasper County.

The sheriff said the investigation yielded the largest drug bust in Jasper County history involving a residence.

“We still need to have all the evidence weighed and everything at the Crime Lab, but it’s definitely the largest amount of controlled substance we’ve seized at a residential area in Jasper County,” Cross said. “We have seized larger amounts on the Interstate from people passing through with drug shipments, but this was an operation here in the county at a residence.”

Cross said the sheriff’s department had been working for some time trying to capture the Myers.

“We had been receiving information about their operations, and Thursday, we were able to get search warrants for the property,” the sheriff said. “We have been trying to catch him on the sale part for some time. We caught him back in 1993-94 on a possession of controlled substance charge that he pled guilty to. But prior to now, we had not been able to get him on the sale of drugs.”

Cross said his department was able to make these arrests this week after receiving information concerning stolen property.

“We had received some information that a John Deere Gator, which had been stolen in Pontotoc County, was in our area. We were able to determine from the information that one of our major drug dealers were in possession of it,” the sheriff said. “We were able to get search warrants for his house and his mother’s house. They lived across the street from each other.”

As a result of the search warrants, Cross said deputies searched both houses, which yielded the large amount of property seized.

Cross said the drugs were found in different areas. He said the largest amount of the drugs were found in a wooded area behind Ruby Myers’ house in trash bags and garbage cans.

Cross said Frontrell Myers was charged with one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of firearm by a convicted felon and six counts of possession of stolen property.

The sheriff said Ruby Myers was charged with one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Cross said three others — Bryant Holloway, Quincy Walker and one other person whose name was not available at press time — were arrested at the scene for failure to obey officers during the execution of the search warrants. The sheriff said Holloway, Walker and the other person are believed to be residents of Newton County.

Cross said while this is believed to be the largest residential drug bust in Jasper County history, his office is continuing to investigate this incident.

“We are still looking into this,” the sheriff said Friday evening. “We have a lot more work to do on this case.”

Cross said the Myers are expected to make their initial court appearances on Monday.