Federal, state and local law enforcement leaders announced Monday that a yearslong investigation known as Operation Sweet Silence has led to the dismantling of what officials described as a major violent gang network operating in Columbus and beyond.

During a joint press conference, representatives from the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, DEA, U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia outlined the results of the multi-agency operation targeting the Zohanan gang and other criminal organizations.

Sheriff Greg Countryman said the investigation sends a clear message to criminal groups operating in the community.

“We will not stop until the criminals stop,” Countryman said. “We closed down their business here in Columbus.”

According to U.S. Attorney William Keyes, the operation focused on hybrid street gangs in Columbus and elsewhere with ties to Mexican drug cartels. Officials said the groups were connected to violent crimes including homicides, drive-by shootings, weapons trafficking and large-scale drug distribution.

Convictions and Sentences

Authorities said 30 defendants have been convicted in federal court so far. Of those, 21 have already been sentenced to a combined 167 years in prison without parole. Nine additional defendants are expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

Keyes said the convictions represent a major blow to gang activity in the region.

“A thriving violent criminal gang, the Zohanans, have been brought to justice,” he said. “It has been dismantled. It functionally no longer exists.”

When asked to clarify that statement, Keyes said some individuals may still claim affiliation, but the gang’s previous ability to traffic weapons, distribute drugs and commit acts of violence has been largely eliminated.

Drugs and Weapons Seizes

Officials reported significant seizures tied to the investigation, including:

• $20 million worth of cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and methamphetamine seized in Columbus
• $250 million worth of narcotics seized nationwide, including a major seizure in California
• 119 firearms recovered in Columbus, including machine guns, rifles, shotguns, stolen weapons and large-capacity magazines

DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Jae Chung said many local gangs are linked to broader trafficking organizations.

“What may appear to be local drug distribution activity is often part of a much broader and more dangerous supply chain,” Chung said.

He added that drugs tied to the case were linked to the Sinaloa cartel, which he said is one of several major trafficking organizations operating in Georgia.

FBI Agent Shooting Highlighted

FBI officials also referenced a July 2022 incident during the investigation in which gang members allegedly opened fire on an FBI vehicle during surveillance in Columbus.

According to officials, the vehicle was heavily damaged, but the agent inside was not injured. Two men were later convicted and sentenced in connection with the shooting.

Multi-Agency Effort

The operation involved numerous agencies, including the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol.

Officials credited the case’s success to years of surveillance, intelligence gathering, wiretaps, search warrants and coordinated enforcement actions.

Ongoing Mission

While celebrating the results, law enforcement leaders said efforts against violent crime and organized drug trafficking in the region will continue.

“We’ll continue to achieve this goal together with unity, with purpose, and with resolve to keep our communities safe,” Chung said.