Two Georgia residents have been arrested for allegedly trafficking heroin into the Golden Triangle.
Jamie Wallace, 19, and Michael Pamfilis, 24, both of Atlanta, were arrested Monday by agents with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit. They were each charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
The two were arrested on a traffic stop after they were observed acting suspicious at a local gas station. Narcotics agents were alerted and, after establishing probable cause, stopped the couple on Highway 182, authorities said.
According to a press release issued by the sheriff’s department, Wallace and Pamfilis had an undetermined amount of heroin in their possession as well as approximately $7,000.
Heroin is classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic, meaning it has no legitimate medical value and is considered highly addictive.
Narcotics Unit Commander Archie Williams said fortunately, heroin has not yet become readily available in Lowndes County.
“It’s not here yet and we’re doing everything we can to stop it,” he said.
Heroin that is sold on the street typically has a purity rate of 10-to-12 percent purity and sells for $6,000 to $8,000 an ounce, Williams said.
The last substantial heroin bust was in March 2012 when three Mexican nationals were arrested and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The three had approximately $1 million in heroin in their possession.
Wallace and Pamfilis each received a bond of $100,000. They are currently in the custody of the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.