COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. - Investigators say they've stopped a six year drug ring. Drug agents say it's an operation that spanned Columbia and McDuffie counties.

Investigators arrested eight people Wednesday and are looking for four more. Deputies say these arrests are connected to a bigger drug ring they busted four years ago.

Investigators are calling it one of the most successful undercover drug operations ever in Columbia County. NBC Augusta 26 News was there as officers arrested six of the suspects, including the man investigators say is one of the main suppliers for drugs, Derrick Boyd.

“These people were on our radar quite a bit,” said Greg Cherundolo, Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We were able to link up people we were working on and concentrating on for the last year,” said Trip Penn, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers say the dealers lived in Columbia County, but sold drugs in McDuffie County.

“They were in rural areas where the people felt safe conducting their business,” said Penn.

In June, investigators searched five homes in Columbia and McDuffie counties. They found drugs, guns and $24,000 in cash.

26 News was there as investigators found drugs hidden in the ground at one of the main homes used to sell. All that evidence allowed investigators to indict 12 people on federal drug charges.

“Some of the people were users, low level dealers,” said Penn.

Investigators say this bust is connected to an undercover drug operation dating back to 2003. Information received from that investigation helped make Wednesday's arrests.

“People filled in the gaps. People may be low level sellers. They were able to move higher within the organization,” said Penn.

Now, they're hoping these arrests will help them work their way to the top, stopping the source of drugs coming into both counties.

Investigators says this isn't the end, more arrests should be made in the next few months.

They are looking for four more people. Eddie and Jeffrey Boyd, Bobby Taylor and Marchello Burnett. If you have any information, call the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

The DEA, McDuffie and Richmond County Sheriff’s Offices, GBI, FBI and ATF assisted in the investigation.

A Federal Judge indicted the following people: Eddie Boyd, Derrick Boyd, Jeffrey Boyd, Marcello Burnett, Martiques Burnett, Antonio Aldred, Ricky Hill, Patricia Unruh, William Bradley, Brenda Bradley, Bobby Taylor, and John Clark.

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