ARDEN, N.C. – An Arden man has been arrested in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking operation following a months-long investigation by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Asheville.
Warren Dane Cox was taken into custody on February 18 during a traffic stop near his home, according to BCSO officials.
Following the arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence on Mallard Run Drive, where they seized:
1.7 pounds of fentanyl (approx. 385,553 lethal doses)
A firearm
The DEA has warned that just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, making the seizure a significant public safety intervention.
Charges Against Cox:
Trafficking cocaine (Level I)
Trafficking fentanyl (Levels II & III, by possession and transport)
Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver (PWIMSD) heroin/fentanyl, psilocybin, and cocaine
Maintaining a vehicle and dwelling for drug activity
Driving while license revoked
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Authorities continue to investigate Cox’s involvement in the trafficking network, emphasizing the severe dangers of fentanyl in North Carolina communities.
