Barbour County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant late Sunday night at a residence located at 2867 Highway 30 in Clayton and took another convicted drug dealer into custody.

This is the third “major dealer” Deputies have arrested within the last 48 hours that has previously been convicted on drug charges in what is being called operation “Grinch”.

“We’re targeting the major dealers, most all of them have prior convictions for selling drugs. We plan to serve several of them Christmas dinner at the Barbour County Jail”, said Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram.

Authorities arrested 44 year-old Orlando Corneluis Laster of Clayton and charged him with two counts of ‘unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine)’ and one count of ‘possession of a controlled substance’. Laster has several prior convictions for drug related charges, including a conviction for ‘trafficking in cocaine’ in 1997. Laster received a 99 year prison sentence for that conviction but was released from prison after only six years.

Laster’s recent charges stem from the alleged sale of cocaine to an undercover officer. Deputies recovered drugs, scales, paraphernalia, and a police scanner inside the residence. An undisclosed amount of U.S. Currency, including that used by undercover officers to purchase cocaine, was also seized by the Sheriff’s Department.

He is currently being held in the Barbour County Jail without bond and more charges are forthcoming according to officials.

“These individuals make thousands of dollars selling poison on our streets and are normally out of jail before the ink dries on the arrest report. But, we’re going to stay after them and do what it takes to get them out of this county and in prison”, said Sheriff Leroy Upshaw.

Sheriff’s Department officials said they expect to arrest at least 11 more individuals at the conclusion of this latest undercover operation.

Deputies R.C. Covington, Corley Mason, Carl Price, reserve deputies Chad Diefenderfer and Lesa Ingram, correctional officer Danny Creel and Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram assisted with the execution of the search warrant.