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Operation Polar Pop leads to 13 arrests, 20 lbs of crystal meth, 6 guns off the streets

On Tuesday, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced what they say is one of the largest drug busts in Northeast Florida.

Operation Polar Pop targeted a local crystal meth drug trafficking operation.

The Sheriff’s Office told Action News Jax's Courtney Cole the yearlong investigation identified who they believe to be the trafficking ring leader along with 12 other accused drug dealers.

"At the end of the day, 13 arrests, along with the seizure of large amounts of crystal meth and handguns, made our community safer,” said Mike Dubet, the assistant special agent in charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

RELATED: 'Operation Polar Pop:' Deputies bust crystal meth ring in Putnam

In August 2017, the Sheriff’s Office and the DEA Jacksonville District started working to bring down a big crystal meth drug trafficking organization.

They call it Operation Polar Pop.

Putnam County Sheriff H.D. "Gator" DeLoach said a Jacksonville man by the name of James Lester Calloway, Jr., 49, led the drug trafficking organization.

“Calloway was supplying several people in the Putnam County area with large amounts of crystal methamphetamine for sale and consumption,” Sheriff DeLoach said.

STORY: Jacksonville Beach police: Man arrested for manufacturing meth

STORY: Possible meth lab found in Jacksonville inn, JSO says

The sheriff went on to say arresting Jason Jed Morris, 52, in late August 2017 was an integral part of the investigation. When they arrested Morris, he was coming from Calloway’s home after purchasing a very large amount of crystal meth. Morris was also found with a firearm.

Information from multiple people and Morris’ arrest led to an operation and investigation launched by the DEA.

In February 2018, the DEA, along with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and PCSO, obtained a search warrant for Calloway's home on in the 5000 block of Jacks Road in Jacksonville.

During the search, they found a large amount of crystal meth, a gun and $70,000.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office also arrested Samuel Martin. Detectives discovered Calloway was supplying him with large amounts of crystal meth for sale in the Nassau County area. During the time of his arrest, he was found with 58 grams of the drug and a gun.

STORY: Lake City teen charged with drug trafficking, had meth in bra, deputies say

DEA agents later learned Calloway's supplier was Anthony Donta Jones,39, of Atlanta. Jones was regularly delivering up to 15 pounds of crystal meth to Calloway from December 2017 to February 2018 for distribution in the Northeast Florida area — including Putnam, Duval and Nassau counties. Jones was arrested in May 2018.

In total, about 20 pounds of crystal meth, $100,000 and six guns were seized during this operation.
The crystal meth, seized during the entire yearlong investigation, had a purity level of 99 percent. For context, Sheriff DeLoach said the crystal meth they're used to dealing with on the streets usually only has a 50 percent to 80 percent purity level.

James Calloway, Jr., Anthony Jones, Jason Morris and Samuel Martin have been indicted  by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida.

Randy Kemp, Ronald Bramble, Richard Stansel, Kevin Chesser, Michael Sweat, Gregory Kirkland, Geoffery Vernon, Clinton McNett and Christopher Evans are all facing charges on a state level.

Calloway, Jr., has already pleaded guilty. He’s facing a mandatory minimum of up 20 years to life in federal prison.