ALBANY — The Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division participated in a multi-law enforcement agency investigation that resulted Tuesday in execution of search warrants and arrests involving methamphetamine in several Southwest Georgia counties.

Federal indictments unsealed Tuesday charged six suspects with drug trafficking. Suspects live in Dougherty, Henry, Muscogee and Worth counties.

Suspects and charges are:

• Willie Keith Ware, 32, Albany, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of distribution of MDMA (ecstasy), one count of distribution of heroin.

• Jamie L. Keith, 38, Albany, one count methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute

• Quade’ Z. Barrett, 25, Albany, one count of distribution of MDMA.

• Demarcus Cook, 37, Sylvester, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

• Addy Cook, 36, Sylvester, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

• Artarikus Davis, 38, Albany, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

All methamphetamine charges involve amounts exceeding 50 grams.

Keith Newman, local narcotics/vice division commander, is assigned to the Columbus office of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration task force.

“Methamphetamine is cheap. The market is flooded, which drives the market down. It’s very accessible,” Newman said, describing the substance’s current popularity.

The local agency assisted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other agencies with surveillance, manpower and intelligence.

“We were part of the overall task force,” said Louis Schofill, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office narcotics/vice commander.

Other agencies involved in the case are sheriffs’ offices in Crisp, Lowndes, Worth and Lee counties, Albany/Dougherty Drug Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, as well as the DEA and the GBI.

“The drug offenders know no boundaries or county lines,” Schofill said. “Thomas County is a long way from the (Mexican) border, so was have to work with others in the battle against drugs that are coming in.

“We know if we curb the drugs before they enter Thomas County, we’re ahead of the game.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820