On Friday, March 7th, agents from the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force carried out a fourth search warrant following the completion of search and arrest warrants related to an unrelated case. This particular warrant was executed at a residence located in Zip City, prompted by intelligence regarding one of the occupants’ involvement in the distribution of narcotics.
The Florence/Lauderdale Special Operations Team successfully gained entry to the home, where a thorough search revealed substantial quantities of illegal substances. Authorities discovered large bags containing methamphetamine, commonly referred to as ICE, as well as fentanyl. The fentanyl seized weighed approximately 53 grams, while the methamphetamine amounted to around 675 grams, which is equivalent to one and a half pounds.
As a result of this operation, Michael Shane Balentine, a 42-year-old resident of Florence, was taken into custody. He now faces serious charges, including Trafficking in Fentanyl and Trafficking in Methamphetamine (ICE).
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