The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol said Wednesday that their newly-formed task force has had its first major seizure of fentanyl pills.
The Joint Fentanyl Impact Team was created this month as a part of a program by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. The task force was created to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks. The team is made up of KBI agents and KHP troopers who have had experience in complex narcotics investigations.
The KBI said an investigation into suspicious activity on June 12th led to the seizure of an estimated 25,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, commonly known as “dirty 30s.” The pills are suspected to contain fentanyl. The seizure took place near the intersection of Central and Oliver in east Wichita.
A 27-year-old man was questioned and later arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Sedgwick County jail. The investigation is continuing.
KBI Director Tony Mattivi said pills with fentanyl are causing extreme harm to Kansas communities. He said this seizure will likely prevent many poisoning deaths, but there is still much work to do.
