KANSAS CITY, Mo. KCTV – A drug trafficking ring that has robbed hundreds of pharmacies across the country, including in Kansas and Missouri, has led to the arrest of 24 more individuals.
On Thursday, Aug. 29, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported a rise in burglaries at independent pharmacies nationwide. In 2023 alone, nearly 900 cases of stolen controlled substances were reported.
Officials emphasized that these thefts not only harm small businesses but also endanger patients and communities.
On Wednesday, the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Arkansas shared the results of a nearly two-year investigation into a Houston-based drug trafficking group. This group is suspected of being responsible for hundreds of pharmacy burglaries across the nation.
Law enforcement officials said that the recent arrests of 24 members of this group follow the arrests of 24 others in December.
From November 2023 to July 2024, the DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, arrested 42 people linked to nearly 200 pharmacy burglaries in 31 states. This Houston-based network targeted rural pharmacies, stealing drugs like Oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall to sell on the streets,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “These criminals tried to avoid security by crawling on the floor, but they couldn’t escape us. We took down the entire operation, including street dealers and burglars. The DEA is committed to fighting the opioid epidemic by shutting down those who profit from addiction.
The DEA’s Little Rock District Office led the investigation after discovering a series of these burglaries in Arkansas. The organization has been connected to over 200 pharmacy burglaries across the U.S., including in Kansas and Missouri. The most commonly stolen drugs were oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and promethazine with codeine cough syrup.
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