5 Charged, 5 pounds Fetanyl Seized in Buncombe County

Buncombe County -- October 16, 2023:The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office announced, that 5 pounds of fentanyl were found after the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office carried out three search warrants on Tuesday. 

Additionally, 59 criminal charges were brought against a significant drug trafficking organization in Buncombe County. In Buncombe County's history, this is the biggest fentanyl seizure. 

This months-long investigation was led by the Sheriff’s Office Illegal Gun Reduction and Narcotics Task Force (IGRANT) unit with the assistance of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit (HSNU), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), NC Probation and Parole, the Asheville Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and numerous other divisions and units from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

The below-listed evidence was seized during the search warrants:
- Fentanyl 2282.4 grams (5.03 pounds)
- Methamphetamine 667.1 grams (1.47 pounds)
- Heroin (black tar) 977.5 grams (2.15 pounds)
- Miscellaneous Pills (approximately 2500)
- Cocaine 31.6 grams
- Suboxone 88 Dosage Units
- Taurus Semi-Automatic Handgun
- Numerous Cellular Devices
- Numerous Items of Drug Paraphernalia

These search warrants were executed at number 60 Eastview Circle, Apartment 1; 1680 Hendersonville Road Apartment A-12; and 311 Sardis Road (AAA Storage).
The following individuals have been charged.
Shabazz Nygel Tucker is charged with:
Trafficking Fentanyl (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Fentanyl (X2)
Trafficking Heroin/Opium (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin/Opium (X2)
Trafficking Methamphetamine (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine (X2)
Trafficking Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine
PWIMSD Schedule III (X2)
Sophia Hope Ridener is charged with:
Trafficking Fentanyl
Conspiracy to Traffick Fentanyl
Trafficking Heroin/Opium
Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin/Opium
Trafficking Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine
Trafficking Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine
PWIMSD Schedule III
Sequoyah Lashay Burt is charged with:
Trafficking Fentanyl (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Fentanyl (X2)
Trafficking Heroin/Opium (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin/Opium (X2)
Trafficking Methamphetamine (X2)
Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine (X2)
Trafficking Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine
PWIMSD Schedule III (X2)
Terry Anthony Graham Jr. is charged with:
Trafficking Fentanyl
Conspiracy to Traffick Fentanyl
Trafficking Heroin/Opium
Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin/Opium
Trafficking Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine
Trafficking Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine
PWIMSD Schedule III
Keiana Taliyah Webber is charged with:
Trafficking Fentanyl
Conspiracy to Traffick Fentanyl
Trafficking Heroin/Opium
Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin/Opium
Trafficking Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Traffick Methamphetamine
Trafficking Cocaine
Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine
PWIMSD Schedule III

According to the DEA, a two-milligram dose of Fentanyl could be lethal. This seizure of 5.03 pounds of Fentanyl equates to 1,141,200 lethal doses that have now been removed from the community.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

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