Kentucky police break up trafficking rings, arrest 206, seize $685,000 worth of drugs

Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky State Police Commissioner PJ Burnett announced a major statewide drug operation resulted in over 200 arrests Thursday.

The mission, titled Operation Summer Heat, is statewide operation aimed at taking dangerous drugs and drug dealers off the street. The investigation lasted three months and focused on suspected drug trafficking rings, Beshear said.

“This was no easy feat, one that put law enforcement face to face with danger,” Beshear said.

The operation resulted in 206 arrests and 490 charges being filed, according to Burnett. The most arrests within a single jurisdiction was 37 in KSP post 9, which includes Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.

There was one arrest in KSP post 12, which includes Fayette County.

No injuries were reported during the operation, Beshear said.

“This statewide initiative is to send a clear message across Kentucky that those who continue to distribute illegal drugs in our communities, the Kentucky State Police and our law enforcement partners, local and federal, will focus our efforts to cease such activities,” Burnett said.

Burnett said the results of the investigation show a significant removal of illegal drugs from the communities with a street value of approximately $685,000, including:

• 2,931 pressed pills of fentanyl
• 554 grams of fentanyl
• 219 grams of cocaine
• 4,862 grams of methamphetamine
• 41 grams of heroin
• 40 grams of spice
• 50 hydrocodone pills
• 64 oxycodone pills
• 90 hallucinogens.

In addition to the drug seizures, 14 illegal firearms and roughly $37,159 associated with drug activity were also captured, according to Burnett. Investigators also recovered $10,000 in stolen tools and one stolen vehicle.

“This success was a testament to the hard work of our detectives and post-level personnel who are dedicated to keeping Kentuckians safe from the dangers of illicit drugs,” Burnett said.

The operation included all 16 posts, the Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations Branch, the Intelligence Branch, post personnel, telecommunicators and other agencies, Burnett said. It is still ongoing, as there are 50 targets still being searched for.

“Kentuckians in those targeted areas can sleep a little better tonight knowing that these drug dealers have been removed from our communities and will now face prosecution,” Burnett said.

Kentucky State Police tip line

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact one of KSP’s 16 posts . People may also report tips confidentially through the KSP website tip form .