Pulaski County deputies seize fentanyl, handgun during early morning drug raid in St. Robert
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
ST. ROBERT, Mo. (KBSI) — A St. Robert man was arrested after authorities executed a narcotics search warrant early Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, seizing fentanyl, a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia.
According to Pulaski County Sheriff Stacy Ball, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office Special Reaction Team, along with detectives from the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG), executed the warrant around 4 a.m. in the 100 block of Planttner Road.
Residents in the area may have heard loud booms during the operation, which authorities said was completed without incident.
During the search, investigators seized approximately 7 grams of fentanyl, a loaded 9 mm handgun and drug paraphernalia.
Ball emphasized the dangers associated with fentanyl, citing warnings from the Drug Enforcement Administration that as little as 2 milligrams of the synthetic opioid can be fatal, depending on an individual’s tolerance and other factors.
According to Ball, the amount of fentanyl seized could represent approximately 3,500 potentially lethal doses, based on the DEA’s 2-milligram threshold.
Benjamin J. Conway of St. Robert was arrested and transported to the Pulaski County Jail, where he was booked on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges.
Authorities said Conway could face the following charges:
– Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
– First-degree drug trafficking
– Delivery of a controlled substance
– Possession of a controlled substance
Ball praised the agencies involved for their teamwork and professionalism, emphasizing the department’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and preventing overdose deaths.
“Behind every overdose is a person, a family, and a phone call nobody wants to receive,” Ball said.
The sheriff’s office said it will continue targeting individuals suspected of distributing dangerous drugs throughout Pulaski County.
Formal charges had not been announced at the time of the sheriff’s statement.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
