7 August 2026
GADSDEN, Ala. Five people were arrested on drug trafficking charges and about 1.1 pounds of fentanyl was seized in a multi-agency law enforcement operation in Etowah County, authorities said at a news conference Friday.
The operation ran Wednesday, Aug. 5. Roughly 10 federal, state and local agencies served search and arrest warrants at about eight locations at the same time, Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby said. The investigation began nearly four months ago and is still open.
Who was arrested?
Willoughby identified five people arrested on drug trafficking charges:
- Zuquavius Clay, 34, two counts of drug trafficking
- Demetrie Borden, 33, two counts of drug trafficking and first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
- Alexis Buchanan, 36, warrants for theft of property and drug trafficking
- David Coats, 35, possession of a controlled substance and drug trafficking
- Larry Smith Jr., 27, three counts of drug trafficking
Three additional people were arrested on other outstanding warrants during the operation.
All eight face charges only. None has been convicted, and everyone charged is presumed innocent unless a court finds otherwise.
What was seized?
FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge Dave Fitzgibbons said the operation produced about a pound of fentanyl, multiple vehicles, several firearms and more than $8,000 in cash.
The 1.1-pound figure came from a single location, Willoughby said. Investigators recovered drugs at other locations as well. Authorities displayed photographs at the news conference showing fentanyl, firearms, cash and digital scales.
Which agencies took part?
Personnel came from the FBI, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Gadsden Police Department, the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit and agencies from neighboring jurisdictions.
Willoughby said hitting eight locations simultaneously is not something one local agency could do alone, and that the scale depended on the agencies working together.
Why was the response so large?
Willoughby addressed criticism about the size and appearance of Wednesday’s operation directly.
He said that at the first house he entered, he saw what he described as a fully automatic weapon on a counter, fitted with a drum magazine capable of holding more than 100 rounds. He said the size of the response was about protecting officers and the community.
No one was injured serving the warrants. Willoughby said carrying out the arrests and searches without injuries or loss of life was the outcome that mattered most to him.
Where is the fentanyl coming from?
Willoughby declined to discuss the source, saying only that he felt confident it does not originate in Gadsden.
Fentanyl has been a sustained concern for local law enforcement because of how little of it can kill. Asked whether the seizure saved lives, Willoughby said it did, for now.
Will the cases be state or federal?
That is not settled. Willoughby said his office is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI to decide how the cases proceed, and that the prosecution route will come out of further discussions.
That decision matters, because federal drug trafficking charges generally carry longer sentences and different rules than state charges.
How does this connect to national efforts?
Fitzgibbons said the operation is part of the FBI’s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative and the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. U.S. Attorney Phil Williams Jr. described the latter as a Justice Department effort targeting illicit criminal activity and drugs.
ALEA Major Crimes Chief Shawn Loughridge said the operation was about protecting communities rather than about arrest and seizure statistics. Etowah County Sheriff Johnathan Horton also spoke about the dangers of fentanyl and credited the agencies involved.
Is the investigation finished?
No. Willoughby said repeatedly that the investigation remains open and that Wednesday was the beginning rather than the end.
Frequently asked questions
When did the operation happen?
Wednesday, Aug. 5. It was announced at a news conference Friday, Aug. 7.
How many people were arrested?
Five on drug trafficking charges, plus three on other outstanding warrants.
How much fentanyl was seized?
About 1.1 pounds from one location, with additional drugs recovered elsewhere.
How many locations were searched?
About eight, hit simultaneously.
Was anyone hurt?
No.
Is anyone convicted?
No. These are arrests and charges only.
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