Video: Twenty pounds of marijuana, thousands of ecstasy pills seized

Published 11:26 am Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Click HERE to view the video of Wednesday’s press conference with officials from the Vicksburg Police Department.

 

As officers and agents with the Vicksburg Police Department’s narcotics unit walked out of the Central Avenue home Wednesday, they left with arms full of drugs, weapons and cash.

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During an operation early Wednesday, law enforcement officials served a search warrant at a home at 812 Central Avenue. Once inside they discovered nine kilos — or 20 pounds – of marijuana and 2,700 ecstasy pills, along with three handguns and one rifle. Also seized was $3,770 in cash and a measuring scale.

Police officials place the street value of the drugs seized at $25,000.

Duane Lamar Williams, 45, who was already on parole for a federal drug-related conviction, was arrested without incident.

Williams has been charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking of narcotics, as well as four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“This team did an outstanding job. These guys work hard from sun up to sundown. They follow up on any tips they receive,” Moore said at the scene early Wednesday. “Any time you do a search warrant for drugs, it’s dangerous. When you are dealing with drugs, there are guns nearby. We got a huge amount of drugs off the street.”

Lt. Johnnie Edwards said the department had received multiple tips of drug activity from the home and conducted an undercover operation.

The home was put under surveillance beginning at around 4 a.m. Wednesday and the search warrant was issued without incident shortly after daybreak for safety reasons.

“It is a good amount of drugs. It’s a lot. I’ve not seen that much drugs at one time,” Edwards said.

“I have been doing this job for 21 years and that is the most I have seen,” Moore said.

Department officials said it is likely Williams will make his initial court appearance Friday in Vicksburg Municipal Court.

About Tim Reeves

Tim Reeves, and his wife Stephanie, are the parents of three children, Sarah Cameron, Clayton and Fin, who all attend school in the Vicksburg Warren School District. The family are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg. Tim is involved in a number of civic and volunteer organizations including the United Way of West Central Mississippi and serves on the City of Vicksburg's Riverfront Redevelopment Committee.

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