Detectives with the New Castle County Police Drug and Human Trafficking Investigations Team hit a home on the unit block of Kings Grant Way in Wilmington on Tuesday, arresting 32-year-old Kane Stanford and seizing roughly 770 small bags of suspected fentanyl, a loaded 9mm handgun, a .556 rifle and a loaded .556 magazine. Stanford is now facing a stack of felony counts, including possession with intent to deliver a Tier 3 quantity of a controlled substance and possession of firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person. Police say he was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and sent to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after he could not post $230,000 cash bail. The investigation, which started in March after a suspected overdose death, is still active.
Police Say Search Turned Up Drugs, Guns And Ammunition
In a news release, the New Castle County Police Department said detectives executed search warrants at a residence on the unit block of Kings Grant Way. Inside, investigators reported finding about 770 bags of suspected fentanyl, a loaded 9mm handgun, a .556 rifle and a loaded .556-caliber ammunition magazine. Police say they confirmed Stanford is legally barred from possessing firearms and that the search flowed from an overdose investigation that began in March.
Regional Context: Recent Large Seizures And Federal Cases
The bust arrives on the heels of other substantial fentanyl seizures in the area. In April, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that two people stumbled on more than 14,000 bags of fentanyl in woods near Claymont. In a separate case in March, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware announced federal charges after a joint DEA and New Castle County Police investigation uncovered hundreds of grams of fentanyl and multiple firearms, highlighting intensified efforts targeting trafficking in and around Wilmington. Recent local and federal actions suggest investigators are working overlapping networks rather than one-off cases.
Charges And Court Status
According to police, Stanford was taken to New Castle County Police headquarters and charged with two felony counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited and two felony counts of possession of ammunition by a person prohibited. He also faces one felony count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity and possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity, along with an additional possession-with-intent charge. The department's release states that he was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $230,000 cash bail. Prosecutors have not yet made additional charging documents public, and the March overdose investigation is ongoing.
What The Charges Mean Under State Law
Under Delaware law, manufacturing, delivering or possessing with intent to deliver a controlled substance in a Tier 3 quantity is classified as a class B felony, according to the state code. The firearm and ammunition charges carry their own felony exposure, and police note that Stanford's status as a person prohibited from having weapons could increase penalties if that status is proven in court. As the case moves through magistrate court, prosecutors will decide whether to press further state charges or ask for federal participation.
How To Contact Police With Tips
Anyone with information is asked to contact New Castle County police. The county's contact page lists a 24-hour non-emergency line at (302) 573-2800. The department has also posted photos and case details on its Facebook page, which is embedded above and can be viewed directly on Facebook. This story will be updated as new court filings or official statements are released.
