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Police seize $2.2 million in opium from woman's home

Police charged a Barrow County woman after investigators seized over 5,500 grams of opium from her home.
Police said they were notified by the Department of Homeland Security of a suspicious package being shipped from a location in Laos to an Auburn, Georgia, address.
Using a controlled delivery method, police said they worked with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the package to the Auburn address.  A police officer dressed as a mailman and delivered the package.
After the resident, 38-year-old De Yang, accepted the package, police executed their search warrant and found that she had packaged over 200 individual packets of opium.
The street value of the opium is estimated at nearly $2.2 million.
“We believe that they were going to be delivering it throughout the United States and in different directions,” said Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith.
According to officials, opium is a scheduled one controlled substance in Georgia and is also the primary ingredient in heroin.
Yang is charged with possession of opium, possession of opium with intent to distribute and trafficking in opium.
When Channel 2’s Tony Thomas knocked on Yang’s door Monday, a young girl answered the door. She said it was her mom who was arrested, and she was home with a babysitter.
Neighbors said they were surprised at Yang’s arrest.
“It’s kind of uncomfortable knowing it’s so close to home. I had no idea. They were very nice people,” said neighbor Chad Pounds.
She is in jail without bond. Federal and local agents are investigating where the drugs were heading. 

WSBTV

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