389 Country
Staff Report
A routine traffic stop in Hayesville on Saturday afternoon has potentially etched its name into Clay County history as one of the largest drug arrests ever recorded in the region, according to information provided by WJRB.
The incident unfolded late Saturday on Highway 64 in Shooting Creek when deputies pulled over a vehicle for failing to maintain its lane. Brandon Pickens, a 40-year-old Asheville resident and passenger in the car, now faces allegations of trafficking a staggering pound of fentanyl into Clay County—an amount investigator Steven Smith described to WJRB as enough “to kill the entire state of Florida’s population.” Smith, who was assisted by deputies Tyler Faggard and Nick Queen, suggested this could be the most significant drug arrest in the county’s history, stating, “I would venture to say that’s the biggest in the history of Clay County, period.”
The search of the vehicle, triggered when Pickens opened the door and deputies detected an overwhelming smell of marijuana, uncovered a trove of narcotics. In addition to the pound of fentanyl, authorities seized 55 grams of cocaine, 17 grams of methamphetamine, and 13 grams of cathinone bath salts. The sheer volume and variety of drugs have elevated the case to extraordinary levels for the rural county.
Pickens, identified as a career criminal with a record of arrests spanning 25 years, has remained tight-lipped about his intentions. Smith told WJRB that Pickens has offered no information regarding where he was taking the narcotics or why he was traveling through Clay County. Following his arrest, Pickens’ bail was set at an eye-popping $2 million, reflecting the severity of the charges and the potential danger posed by the drugs involved.
The bust underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating drug trafficking in small communities, where such large quantities of deadly substances like fentanyl are rarely encountered. For now, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation, hoping to uncover the broader network behind Pickens’ alleged activities.
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