United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - - Troy Derby, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of DEA’s Kansas City District Office, announced today that Edgar Israel Reyes-Toscano, 44, and Vanessa Sanchez, 44, both of Bakersfield, California, were formerly charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri. This indictment replaces the federal criminal complaint that had been filed against Reyes and Sanchez on July 6, 2017.

Special Agent Derby stated Reyes and Sanchez are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, with both of them also being charged with possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to Special Agent Derby, Reyes and Sachez were arrested at a bus terminal in the Kansas City area after interdiction agents/officers spoke with them. In speaking with Reyes and Sanchez, those agents/officers learned that the pair was traveling from Los Angeles, California, to St. Louis, Missouri. In conducting their investigation, the agents/officers ultimately searched a cardboard box secured with clear packaging tape in Reyes’ possession, which was found to contain approximately 2,380 grams of methamphetamine and 3,540 grams of fentanyl. These drugs were found inside clear cellophane wrapped bundles inside the box, with several of the packages found inside a giftwrapped box concealed inside the original cardboard box in Reyes’ possession.

As agents/officers were speaking with Reyes, Sanchez was observed walking to the restroom area carrying a large oversized duffle bag which had a cardboard box shaped package clearly visible within the duffle bag. Sanchez later exited the restroom with the same duffle bag; however the cardboard box was no longer within the duffle bag. Investigators responded to the restroom and found a giftwrapped (in the same wrapping as the giftwrapped box in Reyes’ possession) in the trash can of the restroom. Inside this second giftwrapped box, investigators found three cellophane wrapped packages containing approximately 2,410 grams of methamphetamine.

Special Agent Derby said of the arrests, “These indictments illustrate the hidden dangers that drug traffickers bring into our communities. Traveling across the country, using mass transportation, while carrying the lethal poison fentanyl, demonstrates how little drug traffickers care about the common person, or any consequences their actions have against the common person. Only through the extraordinary cooperation between DEA and their state and local partner agencies working together, side by side, are we able to combat drug traffickers trying to poison our communities.”

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.