The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and the MississippiDepartment of Corrections made what is believed to be one of thelargest drug busts ever in Lincoln County Tuesday night.

Corey Barlow, 27, and Thomas Lee McWilliams, 41, both of 2829Beard Road, were arrested and each charged with two counts ofpossession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, two countsof possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and one countof conspiracy to distribute.

Officers confiscated crack cocaine and marijuana with anapproximate street value of $500,000 from the men and theirresidence.

“This are drugs that would have been sold here in LincolnCounty,” said Sheriff Wiley Calcote. “I’m just glad to get it offthe streets. That’s drugs our children or somebody else won’t beable to get.”

The drug bust began about 6 p.m., when officers had informationto set up a driver’s license checkpoint at Sunset Road and BeardRoad in the Lake Lincoln area, said Narcotics Agent DustinBairfield.

Barlow and McWilliams were stopped at the checkpoint.

“They had two bags of crack and one bag of marijuana andapproximately $1,900 in cash,” said Bairfield.

Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence wherethey reported finding four kilos of powdered cocaine, 20 to 30 bagsof crack rock ready for sale and marijuana.

Officers also confiscated a .32-caliber handgun, a .50-calibermuzzle loader and a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban.

Authorities said Barlow had allegedly been a drug distributor inthe area for about a year.

“He made a statement that he was doing about this much every twoweeks,” said Calcote.

Investigator John Whitaker said the bust would make a majordifference in Lincoln County.

Bairfield complimented the work of MDOC officer John Purser, whoworked the checkpoint and the search.

“We consider him to be a vital role in this,” saidBairfield.

Barlow is being held in the Lincoln County Jail without bond andofficials said he was on parole for a previous drug conviction.

Bond for McWilliams, who is a native of New Orleans, will be setWednesday.