Laurel County deputies seize more than nine pounds of methamphetamine Wednesday

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies have raised the bar on the amount of methamphetamine seized in a single bust after locating nine-and-a-half pounds in north Corbin Wednesday morning.

Deputies arrested Katelynne M. Thomas, 30, of Ithaca, New York, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Brooktondale, New York, in connection with the drugs, 15 firearms, and approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills they say were en route from Atlanta, Georgia, to Syracuse, New York.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said Detective Allen Turner along with Deputy Jamie Etherton were in the process of conducting a separate drug investigation in the business of a parking lot off of West Cumberland Gap Pkwy when this investigation began.

“Deputies developed information and located an adult female and a male juvenile in possession of suspected methamphetamine after Laurel Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Jake Miller and his K-9 ‘Maverick” altered to the presence of narcotics there,” Acciardo stated noting that up further investigation deputies located the methamphetamine, firearms of which four have been determined stolen.

“It is believed that the drugs are cartel-related and were being moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Syracue, New York, by the two suspects who were traveling through Laurel County and were intercepted by Laurel County Sheriff’s investigators,” the release stated.

Acciardo said the previous record for seizure of methamphetamine in a single incident was five pounds.

The investigation is continuing and Acciardo said additional arrests are expected.

Thomas was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

The juvenile was turned over to the court designated worker for disposition.