Local News
Officers seize 4 pounds of cocaine in Tifton
TIFTON — Drug agents seized more than four pounds of cocaine Monday night, along with evidence indicating the man charged with trafficking the illegal drug was also forging “green cards” in his Fourth Street home.
Fernando Delapaz, 35, 408 E. Fourth St., was arrested when agents with the Mid-South Narcotics Task Force served a warrant on the residence.
“We had received information that he was distributing cocaine and making forged green cards for illegal immigrants,” said Jeff Youngblood, commander of the MSNTF. “We developed enough information to search his residence Monday night.”
During that search, agents also found computers, digital cameras andforged “green cards” that Delapaz is alleged to have been making for people, Youngblood said.
“Green cards” are so nicknamed because of their color and are produced as forged United States Permanent Resident Cards, an identification document issued by the government so non-citizens in America can enjoy some of the rights of U.S. citizens, sometimes with the prospect of naturalization.
Two kilograms, or slightly more than four pounds, of cocaine was confiscated. Youngblood said each kilo of the cocaine has a street value of between $22,000 and $23,000.
“This was a pretty significant amount for anywhere in South Georgia,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood said the cocaine was found hidden in a set of chest of drawers in a bedroom of the home.
