Multi-Agency Drug Operation Results in Major Narcotics Seizure

Union County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

A coordinated effort between law enforcement agencies Cherokee County, North Carolina, Gilmer County, Georgia, Fannin County, Georgia, and Union County, Georgia has once again led to the successful interception of dangerous narcotics before they could reach local communities.

 Union County Safe Street Task Force Officers alongside Cherokee County Narcotics Agents and Gilmer County deputies, recently worked together in a joint operation targeting known drug traffickers operating in the region. During the operation, officers also had the opportunity to deploy Gilmer County’s newest K-9, Ruckus, who played a major role in the investigation.

 As a result of the operation, law enforcement officers seized more than 3 ounces of methamphetamine and approximately half an ounce of fentanyl before the drugs could reach their intended destination in North Carolina and Georgia. Authorities say the amount of narcotics recovered had the potential to cause significant harm if distributed throughout Cherokee County, North Carolina, Union County, Georgia, and surrounding communities. On 06/22/2026 Forest Shane Lynn and Starla Normand were arrested for Trafficking Narcotics.

 Sheriff Dyer praised the continued cooperation among the agencies involved, emphasizing the importance of regional partnerships in combating the trafficking of illegal narcotics.

 “We are proud to continue working alongside our neighboring agencies to identify and stop those responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Sheriff Dyer. “This seizure is a direct result of strong interagency cooperation, dedicated investigators, and valuable information provided by the public. There is no doubt these narcotics would have made their way onto the streets of Cherokee County, Union County, and beyond had they not been intercepted.”

 Sheriff Dyer also stressed that public assistance remains a critical component in ongoing investigations involving known drug traffickers and criminal organizations operating in the region.

Law enforcement leaders from Cherokee County, Gilmer County, Fannin County and Union County remain committed to working together to protect their communities and aggressively pursue those responsible for trafficking deadly narcotics.