It’s been a busy day for authorities in Loudon County. Members of the 9^th Judicial District Drug Task Force spent much of the morning rounding up drug offenders in and around Loudon County.

Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider said more than 100 officers from multiple law-enforcement agencies spread out this morning to conduct the roundup. And as of 11:30 local time, four dozen people had been taken into custody. Authorities expect to nab a total of 71 indicted individuals by day’s end.

Charges in the indictments include drug distribution, firearms offenses and maintaining residences for the purpose of drug distribution.

The effort, dubbed “Operation Methamfelony,” began last August. Confidential sources and informants assisted agents with controlled buys of meth, heroin,  crack cocaine and other illegal drugs, to aid in building cases against drug dealers.

Over the past 10 months, DTF members made approximately 150 drug buys.

Guider said it was an incredible effort on the part of law enforcement. “[This] is just a culmination of a lot of hard work that’s been put together by a lot of great people,” he said.