ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville Police Department Major Case and Street Crimes Unit collaborated with the State Bureau of Investigation to seize a massive quantity of drugs in West Asheville.

Around 1:29 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the joint operation led APD detectives to Takeia Vanessa Davis, 44, and Karriam Habar Taylor, 49, both of whom were arrested on stolen firearm charges. However, Davis and Taylor were able to direct the authorities toward a Pisgah View Apartments residence on Cordova Street where a trafficking amount of various narcotics, an additional firearm and a substantial amount of United States currency was seized.

Karriam Habar Taylor, 49.
The confiscated narcotics.
Takeia Vanessa Davis, 44.

“Through investigation of the two individuals that were arrested, it led directly to the confiscation and seizure of a large amount of narcotics at a separate location,” said APD Public Information Officer Rick Rice.

Among the substances seized were nearly 23 grams of blue pills, which authorities suspect to be pressed fentanyl.

“Those blue pills, the potentially pressed fentanyl, those are especially dangerous because those those are sold as something else. People don’t realize that there’s fentanyl in them,” Rice said. “It’s possible. They’re still making sure this is what it is. But these are the type of things people can die from in an instant because they don’t know it’s fentanyl.”

The Cordova Street apartment was unoccupied at the time of the search and the investigation into the confiscated contraband remains open.

“We appreciate the State Bureau of Investigation for its invaluable participation in this operation. Their collaboration significantly enhanced our efforts to address concerns raised by our community,” Rice wrote in a press release.

Seized:

  • 2432.41 grams of methamphetamine weighing 5.36 pounds
  • 254.67 grams of fentanyl
  • 100.6 grams of purple fentanyl
  • 22.89 grams of blue pills, potentially pressed fentanyl
  • 40.23 grams of powder cocaine
  • 61.36 grams of crack cocaine
  • 43 unidentified pills
  • 2.76 grams of green powder
  • 3 handguns
  • $3453.02 in U.S. currency

Arrested:

Taylor was charged with:

  • One felony count of parole commission violation
  • One felony count of possession of stolen firearm
  • One felony count of possession of firearm by felon
  • One misdemeanor count of carrying concealed gun
  • One misdemeanor count of resisting public officer

Taylor was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under no bond by a magistrate due to parole violation.

Davis was charged with:

  • One felony count of possession of stolen firearm
  • One misdemeanor count of carrying concealed gun
  • One misdemeanor count of driving while license revoked 

Davis was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $3,000 secured bond issued by a magistrate.

If you have any information about illegal activity, please contact APD at (828) 252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD app or by texting “TIP2APD” to 847411.

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