The Barton County Sheriff’s Office seized about 9 pounds of suspected marijuana as well as $22,000 in cash in the course of executing a series of search warrants on Friday.
Kevin Franklin Jr., 35, of 5210 10th St. in Great Bend, was arrested.
Sheriff Brian Bellendir said “high-grade marijuana” with an estimated street value of $35,000 was seized.
BCSO officers and detectives began executing three search warrants in Great Bend and Barton County around 8:30 a.m. Friday. They searched two residences and one storage shed.
The BCSO call log shows the work continued into the afternoon and evening, with officers at Franklin’s apartment at 5:23 p.m. Bellendir said officers continued to work on the case Monday.
“The currency is subject to forfeiture under the Kansas Drug Tax Stamp Act,” Bellendir said. “Agents of the Kansas Department of Revenue are assisting with the tax assessments.”
Franklin was booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of distribution paraphernalia, unlawful distribution using a communication facility, no tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $100,000.
“The seizures and arrest (Friday) are part of an investigation that has been ongoing for several weeks,” Bellendir said. “The Sheriff’s Office will continue to follow leads and pursue the investigation to further arrests.”