Around 50,000 pills containing fentanyl were recently seized by a local task force in Cherokee County, Georgia in a major drug bust.
The operation involved the arrest of a couple who authorities believe were pressing and distributing the pills from their home in Woodstock.
Frederick Michelsen, 35, together with Elizabeth Ashley Michelsen, 28, were apprehended for their alleged role in a drug operation on the dark web.
The Cherokee Country Sheriff's Office said that agents found a pound of marijuana, 14 grams of heroin, 50,000 pills assumed to contain fentanyl and Xanax, and an ounce of cocaine.
Month-Long Investigation
Members of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad were able to get trustworthy information that the Michelsens were involved in the manufacturing and distribution of pills that contain the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Authorities believe the pair were able to carry out their operation using the dark web.
On the day of Frederick's arrest, the Narcotics Squad agents watched him leave his house.
The agents asked for uniform support to arrest him because he was wanted on felony arrest warrants in four different jurisdictions.
The deputies stopped Frederick and he ran on foot for a short distance.
Both he and his wife were taken into custody. Search warrants were issued for their home and for two storage facilities, one in the city of Woodstock and the other in unincorporated Cherokee County.
After it was determined he had several active felony warrants for his arrest, another 47-year-old man by the name of Timothy Andrew Twardokus from Michigan was also arrested at the same address in Woodstock.
He was booked into the Cherokee County jail but later moved to Cobb County.
Commander Phil Price said that the U.S. Postal inspectors, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit and agents from Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad were able to locate drugs totaling roughly $250,000 in vacuum-sealed bags.
The Couple's Charges
The couple is currently in custody at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center.
The pair were both charged with trafficking heroin and fentanyl, as well as possession of THC, marijuana, cocaine, Xanax, dronabinol liquid and LSD.
In addition to these charges, Frederick Michelsen was also charged with obstruction of an officer and escape, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Elizabeth Michelsen was also charged with possession of a Schedule 1 drug and possession of THC wax.
