More Than 12 Pounds of Fentanyl, $1.5 Million in Drugs: Task Force and DEA Say They Found a Suspected Mexican Cartel Stash House in Barboursville, West Virginia, Near Huntington
Investigators say they found more than 12 pounds of fentanyl and more than 15 pounds of cocaine at a suspected Mexican cartel stash house in Barboursville, West Virginia, a small Cabell County town just east of Huntington. WSAZ and WCHS reported the seizure Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $1.5 million, officials said.
What investigators say they found
WSAZ reported that the Huntington Violent Crimes Drug Task Force (HVCDTF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a press release Thursday that they have been running a joint investigation since July. The target is what they described as a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization operating in Barboursville. That investigation led them to a house in Cabell County that they call a suspected cartel stash house. According to the station, officers said large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine were being stored there for distribution. As of Thursday, the seizures totaled more than 15½ pounds of cocaine and 12½ pounds of fentanyl.
WCHS cited a news release from the city of Huntington, which described the house as “believed to be connected to a Mexican cartel.” The station said the investigation is still active. Neither outlet reported which cartel the organization is allegedly tied to, the address of the house, or how the drugs were found.
Federal prosecutors to take the case
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia will handle the prosecution, both stations reported. According to WCHS, the city’s release thanked the DEA, West Virginia State Police, the Cabell and Wayne County sheriff’s departments, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Scioto County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office for their help.
Arrests: what is and isn’t public
WSAZ reported that officers said no information about arrests would be released for now. However, a statement from Barboursville Police Chief Greg Lucas, quoted by WCHS, refers to “the arrest announced today.” Lucas said, “We will not tolerate those who choose to bring dangerous drugs into our city.” No suspect has been publicly named or charged. Officials said more details would be released later.
Sources
- WSAZ: “Local $1.5 million drug bust tied to Mexican cartel” (Oct. 8, 2026)
- WCHS: “Drug investigation reveals more than $1.5M in narcotics at Barboursville stash house” (Oct. 8, 2026)
- Photo: Tim Kiser, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 (file photo of Barboursville; no images of the house or the seizure had been released at the time of writing).
Reported Oct. 8, 2026, from WSAZ and WCHS coverage of a task-force and city of Huntington release. The cartel link is what investigators suspect, not a court finding. No one has been publicly charged, and officials say more information will follow.