Calling it the largest countywide raid in history, law enforcement officers executed 31 arrest warrants against suspected drug dealers at dawn on Friday in Greenville, Georgiana and across Butler County.

“Drug enforcement is everybody’s business and we can get out and do it a lot better when we work as a team,” said Lonzo Ingram, Chief of Police in Greenville, of working with members of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Georgiana police, and agents with the 35th Judicial Circuit’s Drug Task Force.

Sheriff Kenny Harden said the organized raid ends a nearly six-month long investigation into the alleged illegal activities of 31 individuals in Butler County.

“We wanted to do this to get the people we know have been selling drugs,” said Harden.

The early morning raid resulted in several quick arrests. By 10 a.m., law enforcement personnel had 11 suspects in custody. That number had climbed to 16 suspects by 1 p.m., said Captain Al McKee at the Butler County Correctional Facility, with at least three others awaiting processing.

Suspects typically became harder to find once the first few arrests had been made, said Lt. Justin Lovvorn, Greenville investigator.

“The word starts getting around,” he said.

Harden said nearly all of the suspects were wanted for selling drugs of some type: methamphetamines, crack cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

Many of those arrested on Friday were repeat offenders, he said.

Harden emphasized that the cooperation between county and city would continue.

“This is not going to be the end of it,” said Harden. “This is going to be a continuous, ongoing operation.”

Those arrested as of 4 p.m. Friday and their charges:

– Annie Bradley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Cruize Murray, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Deterrio Gregory, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Deundrea Smith, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Emanuel Riley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Erik Rudolph, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– John Smith, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Kathy Armstrong, conspiracy.

– Keilo Riley, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Leterrain Smith, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Lukieth Lekely, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Marcello Jones, theft of property, 3rd.

– Michael Vickery, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Marshall Lyons, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Reco Hartley, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Richard Mack, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Robert Powell, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Robert Simpson, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

– Shayne Stewart, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.