(KAIR)--Disruption of a suspected dog fighting operation and the siezure of 6,000 fentanyl pills were outcomes of Wednesday's two-county drug raid focused on Atchison and Doniphan counties.
A release from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie Thursday provides those new details regarding the execution of four search warrants-two in the City of Atchison and two in Doniphan County-that followed what he calls "a yearlong investigation into a dangerous Fentanyl Distribution Network in Atchison & Doniphan Counties."

Assisting the Sheriff's Offices from the two counties were the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's High Risk Warrant Team and Northeast Special Operations Division.

The rescue of 10 dogs came at a rural Bendena residence, with 63-year-old Raymond Albright arrested following the search of his 428 Elgin Road residence. Laurie says the recovery of the dogs "disrupted what is believed to be a dogfighting operation."
A second Doniphan County residence, located at 303 Locust Street, in Denton, was also targeted in the investigation, but no arrests were made at that location because the residents of the home were not there.

Two search warrants were executed in the City of Atchison-one at 510 North 9th Street and the other at 810 North 10th Street-leading to a total of three arrests: 32-year-old Andre Watson, 32-year-old Andre Harris, and 31-year-old Sarah Schmidt.

According to Laurie, Wednesday's "operations, resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 suspected fentanyl pills, distribution amounts of suspected cocaine (Approx. 3 oz.), 10 firearms, including one believed to be a fully-automatic rifle, approximately $3,000 in cash, and multiple other related items."

Suspects in the investigation face a range of charges related to drug trafficking, drug possession, firearms charges, and other possible charges to be determined.

Laurie, in the release, extends "sincere gratitude to Sheriff Andy Dedeke and the members of the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and members of the KBI- High Risk Warrant Team & Northeast Special Operations Division, and Sheriff Chad Clary and other members of the Doniphan County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this operation. In addition, the same gratitude to the employees of the ATCO Sheriff- Office for their efforts during this lengthy investigation."

The Atchison County Sheriff's Office encourages residents to report any suspicious activity or information related to drug distribution (or any other suspected crimes) by using our anonymous tip located our website at atcosheriffks.org/crime-tips and on the office's free mobile app.