Pubdate: Mon, 17 Apr 2006
Source: Times, The (Gainesville, GA)
Copyright: 2006 Gainesville Times
Contact:  http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2701
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

OFFICIALS: DRUG STING MAY CURB METH DEALING

Authorities say a two-county drug operation earlier this month may 
have disrupted a major pipeline of methamphetamine into Forsyth County.

Law enforcement officials last week announced the April 7 arrest of 
Yong Cha Cobb, 49, also known as Kim Cobb, on drug trafficking and 
other charges.

Cobb is suspected of delivering "significant quantities" of 
methamphetamine from a major distribution hub in DeKalb County, said 
Forsyth County Sheriff's Lt. Duane Piper.

Cobb's husband, 43-year-old Thomas Cobb, was arrested last year on 
methamphetamine trafficking charges, Piper said.

Authorities said the Cobbs, who had been under investigation for 18 
months, are suspected of bringing large amounts of the drug into the 
county on a weekly basis.

"We're thinking they were mid-to high-level dealers in Forsyth 
County," Piper said.

The couple lived in the Ashley Oaks subdivision off Nicholson Road 
and worked in the computer industry, authorities said.

Thomas Cobb's trafficking arrest didn't seem to deter his wife from 
the illegal drug trade, Piper said. "It appears it didn't slow her 
down one bit."

On April 7, drug investigators had Yong Cha Cobb under surveillance 
as she led them to a home off Buford Highway in DeKalb County, Piper said.

She spent about 45 minutes inside before leaving in her Infinity 
FX35. DeKalb police pulled her over a short time later, arresting her 
for obstruction after she got in a confrontation with officers, Piper said.

A search of the car turned up two ounces of suspected methamphetamine 
worth close to $3,000, Piper said.

DeKalb drug investigators then got a search warrant for the house the 
woman had visited, Piper said, finding four pounds of suspected 
methamphetamine with an estimated value of about $89,000.

Yong Cha Cobb was charged with trafficking in an illegal drug and 
obstruction of an officer, said Herschel Grangent, a DeKalb County 
police officer.
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