Beckley Traffic Stop Nets Massive Fentanyl Haul; Enough Lethal Doses to Kill Over 225,000 People

Beckley police arrested two Ohio men on Harper Road after K-9 Vito found nearly a pound of fentanyl and cocaine. Street value is estimated at $90,000.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 11:19 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from WVVA

A Speeding Violation Leads to Major Bust

What began as a standard traffic stop for speeding ended in one of the most significant drug seizures in recent Beckley history. At approximately 1:38 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, Beckley Police Officers Brown and Cline stopped a Chrysler Pacifica with New York registration in the 1900 block of Harper Road. During the encounter, officers grew suspicious of the occupants' behavior, leading to the deployment of K-9 Vito. The drug-sniffing dog gave a positive indication, providing officers with probable cause to search the vehicle.

Quantifying a Lethal Shipment

The search yielded a staggering amount of illicit substances. Officers recovered 445.36 grams of fentanyl, a small amount of cocaine, and $3,500 in cash. To put the seizure into perspective, Deputy Chief David S. Allard stated that the amount of fentanyl recovered is enough to kill more than 225,000 people, given that a lethal dose of the synthetic opioid is as small as 2 milligrams. The street value of the fentanyl alone is estimated at approximately $90,000.

Suspects from Cleveland in Custody

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Adam Gray Jr. and Cornell Alquist Stevenson, both residents of Cleveland, Ohio. The presence of a New York-registered vehicle occupied by Ohio residents on a West Virginia highway suggests a sophisticated interstate trafficking route. Both men were arrested on the scene and face multiple felony charges related to the possession and intent to deliver controlled substances.