A one-year investigation into methamphetamine in St. Johns County has resulted in 54 warrants on charges ranging from production to distribution, Sheriff David Shoar announced Wednesday.
Over the course of the operation, which also involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshal's Service, and the 7th Circuit State Attorney's Office, five meth labs were shut down. Three of those homes have already been demolished.
Shoar called Operation Ancient City Brewers II a big victory for law enforcement and the community.
"The largest drug operation that I can remember," Shoar said. "At least for today, St. Johns County is a safer place."
Agents and deputies began making arrests on July 27. Forty seven of the 54 people facing charges in the operation were in custody, and there are active warrants for the others.
Some off those arrested will be prosecuted as habitual offenders, but at least eight of them were first-time offenders.
"For every one of these people that we take off the street, it's preventing future crime," said U.S. Marshal Mike Pagliughi.
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"All of you are well aware of the terrible ravages this drug has had on our community," Shoar said. "This is a drug that turns nice young men and women into zombies."
He gave an example of an incident Tuesday night in which deputies were called because a man who was almost catatonic was sitting in the middle of a Walmart. Deputies found a quality of meth and a .45-caliber handgun in a bag sitting next to him.
The DEA said the drug itself isn't the only danger to the community. The manufacturing process could cause an explosion and generates hazardous byproducts that can poison the environment where they are made or disposed of.
Deputies said children were living in some of the houses where meth was made, and one was only 1,000 feet from an elementary school.
Although only 54 people face criminal charges as a result of this operation, hundreds more were involved. Shoar said 30 meth manufacturers and about 250 people helped get the chemicals needed to make meth. Some of those are meth addicts.
The operation was called St. Augustine Brewers II because a there was a similar operation four years ago.