A sheriff’s narcotics detective earned Officer of the Month honors for leading an investigation to seize about $1.3 million worth of Xanax made in a clandestine lab in April.

Detective Mike Hoekstra received a watch from General Manager Jason Borowski of Ford of Murfreesboro for his efforts.

Borowski said, “Hoekstra’s assertiveness and initiative have been proven diligently through his extensive efforts of keeping our community safe and clear of illegal narcotics. I want to thank him for committing himself to his job and I wish him nothing but great success in the future.”

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said Hoekstra’s extensive investigation shows the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to combatting the illegal drugs coming into Rutherford County.

“What we are finding in illegal Xanax is that in 89 percent of the cases statewide, the deadly synthetic drug fentanyl is mixed into the pills,” Fitzhugh said. “We will continue in our efforts to fight to keep these drugs out of Rutherford County.”

The case began in January when a U.S. Postal inspector provided information to Hoekstra about suspicious packages, believed to contain narcotics, being shipped out of Murfreesboro to multiple locations throughout the U.S.

In February, packages shipped by the Rutherford County suspects were intercepted by law enforcement and contained 8,300 dosage units of Xanax with a street value of $41,500.

Because of Hoekstra’s investigation, the Xanax pills were recovered during a search warrant April 9 at two locations by sheriff’s detectives, the U.S. Postal Inspectors, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Squad, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents and Food and Drug Administration officers. 

They seized more than 58,000 Xanax pills, selling for $5 each, and one pound of pure Alprazolam powder, when mixed with binding agents, would produce 200,000 dosage units of Xanax.

Narcotics Detective Sgt. Tony Hall said due to Hoekstra’s investigation, $50,000 additional dosage units of the Xanax, due for delivery in California, were also recovered from an additional parcel.

“Detective Hoekstra has taken the initiative to start a very successful investigative niche within the narcotics unit working package/parcel cases,” Hall said. “While the Xanax case is a great example of his hard work and dedication, it is just a drop in the bucket of what his diligence has done for this community.” 

Photo: General Manager Jason Borowski of Ford of Murfreesboro, right, presents a watch to Capt. Britt Reed in behalf of Officer of the Month Detective Mike Hoekstra. At left is Major Bill Sharp. Hoekstra works in a confidential capacity.