Suspected Drug Kingpin Arrested in Fairmont

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A suspected drug kingpin from Baltimore has been arrested following an investigation by the Three Rivers Drug Task Force in Marion County, West Virginia. Police found paraphernalia, a large amount of cash, and dealer-level quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in a motel room that Garland was using as a staging area to break down and sell the drugs nearby.

Why it matters

The arrest of a suspected drug kingpin is a significant development in the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic and drug trafficking in West Virginia, which has been one of the states hit hardest by the crisis. Dismantling high-level drug distribution networks is a key strategy for law enforcement to reduce the supply of dangerous drugs in local communities.

The details

On February 25, members of the Three Rivers Drug Task Force, assisted by police officers from Fairmont and White Hall, conducted a search of a room at the Country Club Motor Lodge in Fairmont. In the room, they encountered Marcus Garland, 54, of Baltimore, and found paraphernalia, a duffel bag containing a large amount of currency, and dealer-level quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Officials said Garland was using the room as a staging area to break down the drugs and sell them nearby. The room was paid for by an unidentified co-conspirator who traveled with Garland from Baltimore, transporting large quantities of drugs into West Virginia.

• On February 25, police conducted a search of a motel room in Fairmont, West Virginia.

What’s next

Garland is being held in the North Central Regional Jail on a $300,000 bond. The judge will determine whether to allow him to be released on bail.