Four arrested after $1 million worth of stolen drugs seized by Arkansas State Police

CADDO VALLEY, Ark. – Officials with the Arkansas State Police said troopers seized an estimated $1 million in stolen drugs and arrested four men from Texas in connection with a Missouri pharmacy burglary.

Officials said troopers seized more than 26,000 stolen pills worth an estimated $750,000 to $1 million after a July 31 burglary in Maryland Heights, Missouri. They said the four men were seen on a security camera breaking into the pharmacy at 1:15 a.m. by breaking a rear window.

After the four were inside, officials said they spent two hours breaking into a secure cage holding controlled substances, then filled large bags with prescription pill bottles.

A Be on the Lookout was issued for a Toyota RAV4 because of pharmacy security footage, officials said. Later, troopers spotted the RAV4 traveling with a second SUV near Caddo Valley.

The two SUVs were stopped at a Pilot Travel Center, and the four men were taken into custody, officials said.

Officials said troopers searched the SUVs and found two large trash bags, each filled with pill bottles that included over 6,000 Hydrocodone pills, approximately 1,500 Morphine pills, and more than 6,700 Oxycodone pills.

Troopers arrested 21-year-old Erik Dewayne Lyons Jr., 29-year-old Johnathan Dewayne Fore, 32-year-old Anthony Ray Venwright Jr., 32, all from Houston, Texas, and 21-year-old Bartley Omar White Jr. of Humble, Texas.

Each man is facing eight felony counts of trafficking a controlled substance. They were taken to the Clark County Detention Center, officials said, adding that the investigation is ongoing and may result in additional charges from Missouri authorities.