GAINESVILLE — Law enforcement agencies across northeast Georgia have arrested 24 people suspected in a $9.5 million drug trafficking ring.

The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office worked for 10 months with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and other agencies to break up Horace Mayfield’s alleged drug trafficking organization, according to authorities.

Officers from 200 agencies, including the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, became involved with the investigation.

“Mayfield and his drug trafficking organization have been operating in Stephens County and surrounding communities for many years,” according to a news release from the drug enforcement office.

“Over the course of this investigation, the Mayfield drug trafficking organization can be attributed to 72 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50 pounds of marijuana with a total street value of ($9.5 million).”

The agents were serving 20 search warrants in addition to 27 arrest warrants. The network allegedly spread from Atlanta up into South Carolina.

Sheriff’s offices from Forsyth, Hall, Habersham, Lumpkin and White counties contributed to the investigation.

According to Sheriff’s Cpl. Robin Regan, one local deputy served on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s task force. Regan deferred additional comment on the deputy’s involvement to the GBI.

The news release stated that additional arrests are expected.