In a recent crackdown on the ever-pervasive drug trade, Grants Pass resident Christopher Smith has been slapped with federal charges for his involvement in fentanyl trafficking and for illegal possession of a firearm. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, the 38-year-old was apprehended following an investigation by the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Charged by criminal complaint, Smith is accused of owning with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the search of his Grants Pass home on May 9, 2025, active and working tirelessly, investigators discovered approximately 400 grams of the potent synthetic opioid, alongside two digital scales set with residue of the narcotic, one unmarked firearm suppressor, two ghost guns produced by the 3D printers found, and an arsenal of 74 other firearms.
Smith, catching the eye of law enforcement approximately one year ago as per the complaint, was said to distribute fentanyl throughout Josephine County actively. The sting that brought him down was a collective effort supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, incorporating members from various enforcement agencies that include the Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, and others.
The accused made his initial courthouse appearance today before being arraigned by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Inside the sober lines of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Brassell is the one tasked with prosecuting the case for the District of Oregon, according to the statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Smith, who was present during the search, was immediately placed under arrest, watching as his alleged enterprise was dismantled piece by piece.
