Grand Rapids, Mich. — A major drug bust by Kent County’s narcotics team has resulted in the seizure of a record amount of fentanyl and cocaine from a Grand Rapids home. The drugs, along with a loaded handgun and a significant amount of cash, were found during a raid on April 1, in what officials are calling a significant blow to the local drug trade.
The seized fentanyl, weighing about 1.7 pounds, is estimated to have the potential to kill more than 380,000 people—about half the population of Kent County. Alongside the fentanyl, officers recovered 11 pounds of cocaine, valued at approximately $1 million. The combined street value of the fentanyl and cocaine highlights the scale of the operation that was disrupted.
“This seizure is a testament to the relentless efforts of our detectives, who are working tirelessly to keep dangerous drugs off the streets and out of our communities,” said Kent County Sheriff’s Office Detective Lt. Rob Porter.
The defendant, 33-year-old Byron Lamar Swain, was arrested during the raid and is facing a series of serious charges, including the delivery and manufacture of over 1,000 grams of cocaine—a crime that could result in a life sentence. Swain, who has a history of prior drug-related convictions, is being held in the Kent County Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Swain was allegedly holding the drugs for an unknown individual in exchange for a smaller amount of cocaine. According to court records, investigators found crack cocaine, cash, and a 9 mm handgun inside a safe in Swain’s bedroom during the raid. A full magazine of ammunition was also discovered inside the safe, which Swain had reportedly admitted was there, along with the drugs.
Authorities believe that Swain had been involved in trafficking drugs for some time. He is charged with three felony drug offenses, two felony weapons offenses, and a misdemeanor charge of maintaining a drug house. Given his criminal history, including multiple drug convictions, Swain is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET), which led the operation, is a multi-agency task force made up of officers from local police departments, including Grand Rapids, Wyoming, and Walker. Porter praised the team for their efforts to combat fentanyl, a drug that continues to be one of the deadliest threats in the region. The investigation has already had a direct impact on reducing the amount of fentanyl and cocaine circulating in the area.
In a statement, Porter noted the severity of fentanyl’s danger, pointing to data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which states that just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. The 1.7 pounds seized in Grand Rapids translates to approximately 760,000 milligrams—enough to potentially kill hundreds of thousands of people.
This bust is the latest in a series of significant drug seizures in the area. In March, Grand Rapids police announced the seizure of 1.1 pounds of fentanyl, the largest such bust made by its vice unit. Officials said that the fentanyl seized in that case alone could have killed every resident of Grand Rapids and nearby Grandville, amounting to around 250,000 people. That case is also pending, with the defendant, Darrell Mitchell, being held on a $1 million bond.
Kent County law enforcement officials are urging the public to report any suspected drug trafficking or related activities. “Every tip matters in keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Porter, emphasizing that community involvement plays a critical role in the ongoing fight against drug crime.
As the investigation continues, authorities are confident that their targeted enforcement efforts will continue to make a significant impact on the local drug trade.
