A raid on an Ellabell home early Friday morning turned up drugs, money, guns and liquor, according to authorities.
Bryan County Sheriff’s deputies got a warrant to search the home of Mary and Frank Rivers on Garland Street, in the 400 block of Ellabell, allegedly after making undercover drug buys of crack from the couple recently. Pembroke Police helped with the bust and a total of 12 officers were involved, according to BCSD drug investigator Mark Crowe.
The search of the Rivers’ home led to the seizure of several large rocks of cocaine, approximately an ounce of marijuana, six handguns, two shotguns, a rifle, liquor, beer and about $1,500 in cash, Crowe said.
"It’s likely they were turning the cocaine into crack before selling it," he said.
According to BCSD officer Donnie Thomas, the couple had a full store set up in their home.
"It was a one stop shop. You could buy grass, cocaine, beer and donuts," he said.
The beer and liquor was in a cooler on ice and being sold without a license, according to Crowe, and the couple was even selling candy and pickled eggs, he said.
"They were selling beer for $1.25 a piece and liquor shots for $1 a piece," Crowe said.
"One of the shot-guns came back as stolen out of Laurens county," he said, "and, I expect the rest of the guns to comeback stolen too."
Both Rivers face charges of sale of cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and illegal alcohol sales.
Frank Rivers also faces charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Both had been arrested by BCSD a number of years before on drug charges.
The Rivers are currently in Bryan County Jail awaiting their first appearance before a Judge and possible bond, according to Crowe.