The Hardin County Sheriff's Department spent the day looking for 26 people in connection with suspected drug violations.

Among those arrested, recent Silsbee High School graduate and former star athlete Terrence Williams. 

Sheriff Ed Cain says a five month investigation has led officers to uncover heavy trafficking of illegal narcotics within the Silsbee area.

Undercover officers say they purchased illicit drugs from the suspects, including methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and prescription medications.

Residents living in the Parkway Terrace Apartments on South Third Street in Silsbee complained about public drug transactions that have been taking place in the parking lot.

Those complaints led officers to more than two dozen suspects.

"Our officers live in this county. Their kids go to school here so we're just like all the rest of the community that lives here. We don't want them here. We're gonna do everything we can to keep them out," said Sheriff Ed Cain.

Sheriff's deputies credit the Silsbee, Kountze and Lumberton Police Departments for their help and cooperation.As of news time Wednesday, 18 of 26 people living in Hardin County had been arrested.