A six-month-long investigation into an illegal marijuana distribution network in Mississippi and Tennessee has resulted in two arrests and the seizure of $70,000 in jewelry,$180,000 cash and 540 pounds of marijuana.

Rodney McKinley, 33, and Justin Thompson, 22, have been apprehended in connection with the illicit operation.

McKinley faces a litany of charges, including Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Theft of a Firearm less than $2,500.

Meanwhile, Thompson, currently in custody in Mississippi, carries an open warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell Marijuana.

The investigation, spearheaded by the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit HORT team, yielded significant results, including the execution of four search warrants, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of substantial contraband.

On October 12, 2023, detectives executed a narcotics search warrant at 2041 Madison Avenue, resulting in the confiscation of 307 pounds of marijuana meticulously packaged in vacuum-sealed bags concealed within cardboard boxes. This operation provided crucial leads, identifying Thompson as a primary suspect.

Further breakthroughs occurred on March 19, 2024, with the seizure of an additional 232 pounds of marijuana following the execution of another narcotics search warrant at 5896 Fox Lair Avenue.

In a subsequent operation on April 17, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant in Olive Branch, where they uncovered a pound and a half of illegal marijuana, a stolen firearm, and substantial amounts of cash and jewelry, totaling over $180,000 and $70,000, respectively. This raid also led to the apprehension of McKinley at 1821 Black Bear Circle, where authorities discovered over $5,000 in cash and another stolen firearm.