By Delano R. Massey
The Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON — An investigation, which teamed up state and federal law enforcement officials, led state police to the seizure of more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of a Frankfort man.
State police say Randy D. Kendall Sr., 49, will probably face possession and trafficking charges, and the case will probably be sent to federal court. Kendall was being held at the Franklin County jail. The marijuana has a street value of nearly $2 million.
Kentucky State police and Immigration Customs Enforcement started a joint investigation in late January, according to police reports. Packaged inside of 50-pound bags of barium sulfate, which is used to make plastics and is an agent used to help diagnose certain medical problems, the marijuana was placed on 15 pallets and shipped from Mexico to the port of Charleston, S.C.
ICE agents took possession of the shipment at the port and then started a controlled delivery to its intended destination in Kentucky. The shipment was driven from South Carolina to Kentucky in a tractor-trailer. Once the shipment reached Kentucky, state police helped make the delivery to Kendall’s Quik Lube, at 1507 Daniel Drive in Lawrenceburg.
Friday, state police joined federal agents in surveillance at the Quik Lube. On Monday, members of the surveillance team watched the suspects load the marijuana-stuffed packages of barium sulfate onto a flat-bed truck. The suspects moved the pallets from the business to a Franklin County farm at 6505 Flat Creek Road.
The team watched as the marijuana was unloaded into a barn. Law enforcement moved in on the property about 9:30 p.m.
Investigators found 320 bundles of marijuana inside the bags of barium sulfate.
Police say the investigation is ongoing. Other arrests and charges are pending.
Copyright 2008 The Lexington Herald-Leader