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Hiwassee Dam – Three people were arrested last week during a drug raid that uncovered guns, cash and a large amount of marijuana.
Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office raided a home in the 500 block of Owassa Road on April 28 after receiving a tip from another law enforcement agency regarding a large amount of pot that had been purchased out of state and brought into the county.
During the raid, officials found 130 pounds of marijuana, plus weed edibles, multiple THC cartridges, drug paraphernalia and items commonly used to grow pot. Detectives also seized 11 guns, five vehicles and more than $40,000 during the search.
“A big concern for our county is the fact that the marijuana was being made into edibles or gummies,” Lt. Tiffany Holland said. “These gummies look like candy and could be mistakenly ingested by children.”
Officials say the suspects were involved in a multi-state criminal effort that extends as far as California. The investigation remains ongoing with help from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Although there are varying opinions on marijuana, history shows that violence is a likely possibility when large quantities of cash and drugs are involved in an organized activity,” Holland added.
Lisa Maria Shamp, 53; Robert Lee Martin, 67; and Dylan Harley Martin, 20; are each charged with marijuana trafficking and several other felony drug offenses. Court documents show all three lived in the house police raided on April 28. Each of the defendants posted a secure bond and have been released from the Cherokee County Detention Center in Murphy. Officials from Clay County assisted in the raid.