WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating suspects in connection with a drug distribution ring and have seized a large amount of fentanyl.
On October 16, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department’s Narcotics and Special Operations Units served a warrant at a home in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.. Officers seized 9.2 lbs. of fentanyl, as well as guns and other drugs.
“This was our biggest, if not the metro’s, biggest fentanyl seizure since we began tracking the drug in late 2020,” Captain Shawn Magee, KCKPD Narcotics Unit, said.
“One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill thousands of people. In this instance, police seized a little over four kilograms. You don’t need to be good at math to know, this one operation saved a lot of lives."
”One hundred times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for severe pain. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, or pressed into counterfeit pills, that resemble prescription opioids."
"However, because of a lack of quality control, illicit fentanyl is often deadly. In 2025, the KCKPD Narcotics Unit has handled 79 overdose cases. Six of those cases involved juveniles, resulting in 21 fatalities. One juvenile died.
As a result of KCKPD’s operation, three individuals were arrested and booked on requested charges of conspiracy to distribute.
Police also seized 11 firearms, 2 with fully automatic switches; 4,186 grams of fentanyl; 64.6 grams of methamphetamine (2 ½ ounces); 232.8 grams of marijuana (half pound: and 786 miscellaneous pills, most will contain fentanyl.
There were no injuries. Police are not identifying the individuals arrested because this remains an ongoing investigation. The owner of the short-term rental cooperated with police in advance of the operation, and is not facing charges.
“The owners are victims too,” Magee said. “This isn’t a crime-ridden neighborhood; they had no clue they were renting to drug dealers. Unfortunately, switching locations by booking different rentals is appealing to these dealers, because it creates a covert setting, making them more difficult to track. They are clever, but so are we.”
Any resident of Kansas City, Kansas who suspects illegal drug activity in their neighborhood may report it anonymously by calling the KCKPD 24-Hour Narcotics Hotline at 913-573-6272 or by emailing [email protected].