WAYNESBORO, Tenn. -- After nine months of investigation, authorities in Wayne County have arrested dozens of people on prescription drug-related offenses.

Related: Watch This Story

"It got a lot bigger than we anticipated," said Sheriff Ric Wilson. "That is the biggest problem we have in Wayne County. And it's really the biggest problem we have in Tennessee and the United States. Prescription pills are so abused."

The department's Operation Big River started with complaints in Clifton but quickly led investigators to suspects throughout the county.

In all, the Wayne County grand jury returned more than 100 indictments on more than 70 people late this week. Investigators accuse most of them of selling prescription drugs.

"Hydrocodone is probably the most popular," Wilson said. "Methadone. We get a lot of methadone. Xanax is real popular among the young people."

Late this week, the sheriff's department, working along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI and federal marshals, set out to arrest those named in the indictments. As of Saturday evening, deputies had arrested more than 50 of those wanted. Most will face felony charges that carry a possible sentence of about a year and a half in prison.

According to Wilson, this weekend's operation is the largest in Wayne County history. The results of the operation brought in so many suspected offenders, it easily surpassed the jail's capacity of 41 inmates. Surrounding jails in Giles, Harding and Perry counties are housing some of the inmates until space opens in Wayne County.

All of the suspects will appear in court within the next few weeks.