THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) — Illegal drug sales are on the rise in Thomas County.
Recently, the sheriffs office discovered a pill press, used to make drugs in a Thomas County home.
"We are seeing a pretty vast increase in Thomas County."
Illegal drugs are making their way to the streets of Thomas County.
The Narcotics Unit finding this pill presser inside a home during a routine sex offender check.
"We were able to locate the pill press and it was fully assembled again. In a shipping crate," said Tyler Lamon, Narcotics Agent Thomas County.
Agents say Jarshawn Demetrius Holland used the press to make counterfeit drugs, like Xanax, using synthetic drugs.
A Thomasville Pharmacist says black market drugs are a recipe for disaster.
"There's two main dangers, number one what's in the drug. What's in the product that can be inherently dangerous in itself and the second is the process by which it's made. Is it mixed thoroughly does it have other agents in their that are toxic," said Blake Bookerd a Pharmacist.
The drug unit, says the handcrank press could produce hundreds of pills per hour.
Bookerd says you wont find anything like a pill press, in normal pharmacies.
The wise choice is getting pills legally.
"In a pharmacy we have controlled substances but it's a controlled dose and a controlled amount that we can't dispense so if you're taking something and you don't know what it is, you're putting your life at risk," said Bookerd.
The suspect is in jail, on multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and criminal intent to manufacture a controlled substance.
