HOMERVILLE — Undercover drug operations in two rural South Georgia counties led authorities to the apprehension of 22 individuals, 14 in Clinch County and eight in Lanier County.

On Thursday, the South Georgia Drug Task Force and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation State Drug Task Force executed arrest warrants in Clinch County for Jesse Lee Johnson, Ronald Morris Jr., Jerome Riley, Hosie Williams, Kenneth Brown, Herbert Mingo, James Michael Tyson, Donny Manac, Stanley Swinson, Dallas McManus, Joe Burkes, Tony Sentez Reeves, Theodore Thomas, and Josie Williams.

Other individuals are being sought as a result of this investigation, stated a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and their arrests will be forthcoming.

The 14 arrests were the result of a 10-month joint undercover narcotics investigation in Clinch County.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the success of the undercover operation is a direct result of a cooperative effort with the Homerville Police Department and the Clinch County Sheriff's Office.

The South Georgia Drug Task Force kicked off the undercover operation in Homerville in March.

This investigation, according to a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, was the result of a request for assistance regarding complaints of street-level drug sales in the area. In August, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Drug Task Force joined the South Georgia Drug Task Force in the operation.

The investigation, which culminated on Thursday with the 14 arrests, targeted street level narcotics distribution in the Homerville and Clinch County area. Those arrested were charged with a number of violations of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, including the sale of marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and powder cocaine.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, other arrest operations similar to that of Thursday will be launched, unannounced, for others sought in connection with this operation. Authorities said that some 26 defendants sold drugs to undercover agents, and task force agents continue to identify and seek arrest warrants on these individuals.

• Lanier County

Wednesday, the South Georgia Drug Task Force and Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Drug Task Force executed arrest warrants for Ricky Hill Jr., Irvin Lamar Riley, Donald Alexander, Lennon Roberts Jr., Johnathon Michael Minson, Malcolm Jamal Hollis, Aaron McQueen and Nathan Gray, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The eight arrests were the result of a five-month joint undercover narcotics investigation in Lanier County.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the success of the undercover operation is a direct result of a cooperative effort with the Lanier County Sheriff's Office.

In August, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Drug Task Force, the South Georgia Drug Task Force, and the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office initiated an extensive undercover operation.