Suspected Madras drug dealer arrested at work; raid on car, home turn up meth, fake Oxycodone pills with fentanyl

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A long-term drug trafficking investigation led to the arrest of a Madras man working at a retail store late Friday afternoon and a raid on his car and home that turned up a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and fake Oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, officials said.

After several days of surveillance, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, working with the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, arrested the 34-year-old man around 4:30 p.m. while he was working at a Madras retail store, CODE Team Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp said.

He was identified by drug agents as a trafficker of fentanyl and meth in Jefferson County. Vander Kamp said the initial investigation suggested he was selling large quantities of the drugs from his home in the200 block of SW C Street.

Minutes later, the CERT Team executed a search warrant at his home. CODE detectives found the man's car in front of the store where he was working. The team’s narcotics detection K-9 Bonnie was deployed and signaled her handler to the presence of drugs in the car, the sergeant said.

CODE detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for the car and home. Vander Kamp said a search of the suspect, his home and car turned up a commercial quantity of meth and counterfeit Oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, powered fentanyl, a large amount of cash and several knives the felon is prohibited from carrying.

The suspect was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on charges of possessing, manufacturing and distributing a substantial quantity of meth, fentanyl possession and felon in possession of a restricted weapon.

NewsChannel 21’s policy is to not name arrested individuals until and unless they are formally charged.