$2.5 million drug bust
March 09, 2016
Wayne County drug investigators Macy Torrey and Johnny Smith along with Jones County drug investigator Jeff Monk arrested two suspects, a male and a female, at a safety check point on Strengthford/Myrick Road around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday (3/9/16). In all, 70 kilos of cocaine was discovered in two different locations on the pick-up driven by Berenice Benitez-Jaramillo (8/13/90) of Houston, Texas. Also arrested was Penaloza Sanchez (11/12/93) of Morelia, Mexico. Thirty-two kilos was found in sheetrock mud boxes and another 40 kilos was found in a hot water heater. The drugs have a street value of $2.5 million.
The suspects were booked into the Federal Jail in Hattiesburg by DEA agents this morning (3/10/16) after spending the night in the Wayne County Jail. They are being charged with Federal Trafficking. “We have only been in office two months, but I think we have been successful in sending a message that we are serious about cleaning up the roads and streets of Wayne County. I also want to thank Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge and his deputies for their help in the matter," said Wayne County Sheriff Jody Ashley.