Cops seize enough drugs to kill 48M in top Ga. fentanyl bust
ATLANTA, Ga. - On Tuesday, federal authorities said they seized enough fentanyl in a recent drug bust to kill 48 million people. That’s more than four times the population of Georgia.
Authorities say it’s the largest fentanyl bust in Georgia history.
After searching three homes – one each in Atlanta, South Fulton and Douglasville – agents say they found more than 200 pounds of the fentanyl, along with hundreds of thousands of pills laced with methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
Aiken bust yields enough fentanyl to kill all of Augusta
Aiken County deputies on Thursday served a search warrant that turned up enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of Augusta.
They also found machines that produced pills and “bricks” of drugs, approximately 30 firearms, bullet-proof vests, a silencer, and expensive jewelry including a Walter White diamond necklace. White is the fictional meth-making protagonist in the hit TV series “Breaking Bad.”
Authorities say the properties are all “associated” with Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, of Atlanta. He’s a convicted felon who is now facing federal drug trafficking charges in the case. He was arrested at his South Fulton home.
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Harralson on charges of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Richmond County deputies seize record haul of meth, enough fentanyl to kill 1.17M
Richmond County deputies made the biggest meth bust in Richmond County history while also seizing enough fentanyl to kill everyone in a city the size of Jacksonville.
Authorities said Harralson’s operation had the ability to produce 25,000 pills an hour.
Agents also found a book during one of the seizures titled “How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy and Firearms Charges.”
“The scale of this fentanyl operation—run by a convicted felon—posed a grave threat to our community,” Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement. “The presence of high-powered firearms alongside industrial pill-pressing equipment underscores the deadly convergence of drug trafficking and violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling these operations and holding dangerous individuals able.”
Harralson has a long and violent criminal history in Florida and Georgia, including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, drug dealing, and other crimes.
3 suspects arrested in big Orangeburg County drug bust
Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced the arrest of three suspects after an investigation led to the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons.
When asked if Harralson is connected to a cartel, investigators said they couldn’t comment on that aspect of the ongoing investigation. Authorities said they expect more people to be charged in the drug operation who were working with Harralson.
If convicted, Harralson will serve at least 40 years in prison, and possibly life without parole.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
