Murphy – A joint investigation between Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County Sheriff’s Office has concluded with two alleged drug traffickers in jail.
The Cherokee County Narcotics Unit opened an investigation on Kenneth Charles Smith of Clay County after gaining information that Smith was allegedly trafficking methamphetamine.
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On July 31, a vehicle stop was conducted on Smith and India Shelton of Towns County, Ga., in Cherokee County upon discovery that the registration plate displayed on the vehicle had been canceled. During the stop, a release says a trafficking amount of methamphetamine was seized.
That same day, search warrants were executed by Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at the residence of Smith at 765 Cold Branch Road in Hayesville. The search yielded a second trafficking amount of methamphetamine as well as multiple firearms.
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About 168 grams of methamphetamine was located and seized from Smith’s vehicle and home, according to the release.
On Aug. 6, upon new information, the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit seized an additional 2 ounces of methamphetamine, attributed to Smith, from 172 West Hill Drive in Murphy.
Smith is being held at Cherokee County Detention Center in Murphy on a $300,000 secured bond and is charged with three counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, two counts of maintain a dwelling or vehicle, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver controlled substance, possession of Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug para-phernalia.
Shelton is also being held at Cherokee County Detention Center on a $150,000 secured bond. She is charged with two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine.
Sheriff Dustin Smith would like to thank the Narcotics Unit, as well as the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and all other agencies that assisted with this lengthy investigation.