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Drug sweep yields weed, coke, toad
'Operation: Bad Candy" rounds up 36 for drug possession, distribution
By: Natalie Shelton
After a Northland drug sweep last week, a law enforcement agency has a toad in protective custody.
And "toad" is not a euphemism for "a really bad guy who deals drugs."
It's a little guy who is better known as the Sonoran Desert toad or Colorado River toad. He and his relatives have gained notoriety among certain circles because they secrete venom on their backs when they become angry or frightened, venom that contains a hallucinogen called bufotenine.
That hallucinogen, which is illegal, has had individuals go to elaborate lengths to partake in a little "toad smoking," said Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Dan White.
Some brave souls used to experiment with the extremely dangerous practice of "toad licking," but toad smoking is considered a better alternative because a person heats the frogs' venom, which breaks down the toxins and retains the hallucinogen, White said. The hallucinogen is then dried and smoked.
Local law enforcement authorities found the frog in the possession of David S. Theiss, 21, of Kansas City North and arrested him for possession of a controlled substance, White said.
Theiss was one of 61 Northland individuals recently targeted in "Operation: Bad Candy," the culmination of an almost two-year undercover operation of the Clay County Drug Task Force.
More than 50 officers — including those from the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and police departments in Liberty, Pleasant Valley, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Kearney and Smithville — met at 4:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Shoal Creek Patrol Division for a briefing and to receive arrest warrants.
The officers then teamed up and swept the Northland, knocking on doors in the early hours of the morning and surprising suspected drug dealers, Clay County Sheriff Paul Vescovo said.
By about 10 a.m. that day, they had taken 30 into custody, Vescovo said. As of Friday of last week, that number had increased to 36.
"Normally I'm not too keen on getting out of bed at 3 in the morning," he said on the day of the sting. "But I certainly liked doing it today. As a sheriff, you look forward to these types of events. It shows our public that we're serious about drugs and that all of our area law enforcement agencies are committed to working together for a common effort."
White said arrests were mainly for possession or delivery of marijuana, methamphetamine or cocaine.
He said he considered "Operation: Bad Candy" a success.
"When you're dealing with these cases, it's tough because a lot of them know each other," White said. "If you go to one person's house, it can be piecemeal to get the others in custody because it doesn't take long for the word to get out.
"But to get 30 in just a few hours, that's doing very well. Drugs have a presence in the Northland, but we're all doing our best to combat it."
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.
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And "toad" is not a euphemism for "a really bad guy who deals drugs."
It's a little guy who is better known as the Sonoran Desert toad or Colorado River toad. He and his relatives have gained notoriety among certain circles because they secrete venom on their backs when they become angry or frightened, venom that contains a hallucinogen called bufotenine.
That hallucinogen, which is illegal, has had individuals go to elaborate lengths to partake in a little "toad smoking," said Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Dan White.
Some brave souls used to experiment with the extremely dangerous practice of "toad licking," but toad smoking is considered a better alternative because a person heats the frogs' venom, which breaks down the toxins and retains the hallucinogen, White said. The hallucinogen is then dried and smoked.
Local law enforcement authorities found the frog in the possession of David S. Theiss, 21, of Kansas City North and arrested him for possession of a controlled substance, White said.
Theiss was one of 61 Northland individuals recently targeted in "Operation: Bad Candy," the culmination of an almost two-year undercover operation of the Clay County Drug Task Force.
More than 50 officers — including those from the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and police departments in Liberty, Pleasant Valley, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Kearney and Smithville — met at 4:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Shoal Creek Patrol Division for a briefing and to receive arrest warrants.
The officers then teamed up and swept the Northland, knocking on doors in the early hours of the morning and surprising suspected drug dealers, Clay County Sheriff Paul Vescovo said.
By about 10 a.m. that day, they had taken 30 into custody, Vescovo said. As of Friday of last week, that number had increased to 36.
"Normally I'm not too keen on getting out of bed at 3 in the morning," he said on the day of the sting. "But I certainly liked doing it today. As a sheriff, you look forward to these types of events. It shows our public that we're serious about drugs and that all of our area law enforcement agencies are committed to working together for a common effort."
White said arrests were mainly for possession or delivery of marijuana, methamphetamine or cocaine.
He said he considered "Operation: Bad Candy" a success.
"When you're dealing with these cases, it's tough because a lot of them know each other," White said. "If you go to one person's house, it can be piecemeal to get the others in custody because it doesn't take long for the word to get out.
"But to get 30 in just a few hours, that's doing very well. Drugs have a presence in the Northland, but we're all doing our best to combat it."
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.
Comments on "Drug sweep yields weed, coke, toad"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Ryan R. wrote on May 26, 2008 1:49 PM:
" Im a little late on this topic but if I will, I believe you are all wrong!! No im just kidding I agree with every statement above they did their homework, good job, then I cant really add anything to it then can I since its all been said not just here but everywhere, Just LEGALIZE IT! "
Jessica Dallas wrote on May 4, 2008 3:53 AM:
" Everyone just needs to get a clue. There is so much out there the world has to offer and no one will ever know because they are sitting back listening to their pansy laws. Since when can you put a law on nature? "
lunarpark35 wrote on Apr 17, 2008 6:14 PM:
" Wow, a drug sweep that yeilded The Evil Weed. Alchohol is infinitely more dangerous and destructive, and don't get me started on LEGAL psychiatric DRUGS, yet marijuana is STILL has the image of such villainy. Priorities: America has no sense of them. "
JmeDHill wrote on Apr 1, 2008 10:37 PM:
" Is there any real way to balance what is right and wrong, I mean honestly even if you wanted to do the most ridiculously painful things to yourself I think it is your right to be able to do it. Although the flip side is, all the people who can't work and are homeless and have turned to crime to make money for their addiction are increasing. So what is there to do? I don't have an answer. "
matrixbreaker wrote on Mar 29, 2008 10:03 AM:
" 911truther : the next step IS for the new world order to illegalize OUR BRAINS.... we already expell filthy carbon poison! INFOWARS.com "
Jeff wrote on Mar 21, 2008 12:29 AM:
" The government will never stop drug use. Ever since cavemen discovered shrooms and weed, drug use has been inextricably linked with humanity. Moreover, it is not clear to me that drug use SHOULD be stopped, and it annoys me that the government wastes my money fighting an unwinnable war.
"My attorney had never bought into the theory, often espoused by former drug abusers, that you can get a lot higher without drugs than with them. And for that matter,neither have I."- Hunter S. Thompson "
"My attorney had never bought into the theory, often espoused by former drug abusers, that you can get a lot higher without drugs than with them. And for that matter,neither have I."- Hunter S. Thompson "
jb wrote on Mar 5, 2008 11:48 PM:
" It's halarious. You have a toad, and now you are going to jail, haha. If he wants to do stupid stuff with a toad let him. Go for the dealers, leave the users alone, they are harming anyone but themselves. "
rudy wrote on Feb 25, 2008 7:06 PM:
" Going into peoples houses while they are sleeping to arrest them is completely ridiculous. It is a waste of the tax payers money to be having the cops do this, it is unfair to the drug users to wake them up to arrest them when they aren't breaking any laws at the moment. The prohibition didn't work for alcohol and it won't work for any other drugs either. "
Freedom Fighter wrote on Jan 29, 2008 4:24 PM:
" now now guys, i was just reading how there were 14,000 marijuana related fatalities in 2006........o wait, that was alcohol. Anyway congratulations to the fine state troopers in bring in this kid, i feel much safer with him and his toad off the street /end sarcasm "
respect for the law and Justice wrote on Jan 22, 2008 4:03 PM:
" It's was so very obvious what he was going to do with the toad. There are other toads that would have been just as a good of a pet. If that was his true intentions. "
J- roe wrote on Jan 11, 2008 12:45 PM:
" We no longer have the right to alter our consciousness or induce a spiritual experience through nature. Uncle Sam says if we want to experience pleasure we must do so by consuming large quantities of alcohol. Why is this? These politicians who write the laws have vested interest with the alcohol companies, Who do you think makes those campaign contributions? America is supposed to operate under libertarian values not totalitarian. "
Mickel Daniels wrote on Dec 25, 2007 10:23 PM:
" All in all I beleive current drug laws in america are stupid. It's all political my friend, think about it. They aren't making cigarettes illegal, why? BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TAX MONEY MADE OF THE SELLING OF TOBACCO RELATED PRODUCTS!!!
"
t-coles wrote on Dec 24, 2007 2:05 PM:
" now we cant even respect nature without worrying about a file on our heads... what has this world turned into? "
911 truther wrote on Dec 8, 2007 2:11 AM:
" Lets see, they make weed illegal they make the DMT in our amphibious friend illegal, even though there is DMT in anyone reading this' brain RIGHT NOW, you are all in possesion of this "controlled substance" at every moment of every day. Is it just me or does something seem wrong about making NATURE illegal?? "
Ben wrote on Dec 1, 2007 12:20 AM:
" I agree with Bob. To arrest someone for being in posession of a pet is utterly rediculous. Who's to say that he had intent of harvesting the venom? "
Bob Build wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:20 PM:
" That is the same mentality that led to the burning of witches. Some guy asleep at home with his toad and the cops bust him. That is so stupid. They should be pulling over drunk or drugged drivers, not arresting people at home in their sleep. One day the knock might come for you if you believe or do the wrong thing. "
LP wrote on Nov 8, 2007 10:14 AM:
" Interesting article "