Lexington Police reveal top drug bust hauls of 2022

LEXINGTON--The Lexington Police Department's recently released Anuual Report revealed the top drug busts in Lexington, Kentucky for 2022, a year that saw record homicides in the city.

According to the report, "The Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU) continued to focus efforts on combating heroin and fentanyl overdoses through the prosecution of traffickers and their associates responsible for overdose deaths in Fayette County."

Here are the top busts of 2022, according to the report:

Tip from Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Leads to Significant Quantities of Drugs Removed from the Streets

In March, NEU detectives executed a search warrant after receiving a tip from Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. The tip led to the identification of four individuals trafficking significant quantities of fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.

Items seized during this investigation include:

• 1 ½ pounds of crystal methamphetamine

• 343.7 grams of fentanyl

• 42 grams of cocaine

• 43.5 grams of crack cocaine

• 1 pound of marijuana

• 1 AR15 rifle

• 4 handguns

Photo byLPD

Multiple Search Warrants Lead to Seizure of Large-Scale Trafficking Operations

In June, NEU detectives executed search warrants at three different locations within Fayette County. The warrants were the result of a long-term investigation which included methamphetamine trafficking operations.

Items seized during this investigation include:

• 15 kilograms of methamphetamine

• 2 kilograms of cocaine

• 2 rifles

• 4 handguns

• $80,000 cash

• Assorted drug trafficking paraphernalia

Photo byLPD

Multi-Jurisdiction Investigation Leads to Arrests

In July, NEU detectives were contacted by the London DEA Office about an investigation that had ties to Lexington. This investigation led to a search warrant being executed in Fayette County. Upon execution of the search warrant, investigators located and seized 39 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 19,000 counterfeit pills (believed to be fentanyl), 2 kilograms of cocaine and three firearms. The seized narcotics have a street value of nearly $1 million. Two suspects were arrested for numerous narcotic and firearms offenses.

Photo byLPD

Bluegrass Crime Stoppers Tip Leads to Arrest of Wanted Subject

In August, with the help of a tip from Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, NEU detectives were able to track down a subject who had been wanted by law enforcement since 2020.

A search warrant was also executed, and the following items were located:

• Glock 23 handgun

• Jerico handgun

• Drako 7.62 firearm

• Glock 21 handgun

• Taurus 9mm handgun

• 2 extended handgun magazines

• 433 grams of marijuana

• 80 grams of suspected cocaine

Photo byLPD