Tip leads to teen's arrest on drug trafficking charge

A tip led to a Paducah teen's arrest on drug and gun charges.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Office said they received a tip from the Ballard County Sheriff's Office about illegal drug activity that was taking place in Paducah. Detectives  obtained a cell phone number for a 16-year-old teen who was allegedly selling pills that contained oxycodone or fentanyl.

Detectives arranged to purchase pills from the teenager at a gas station near 8th Street and Park Avenue, where the juvenile was taken into custody without incident. Detectives reportedly found the teen to be in possession of a loaded handgun and 50 pills.

Detectives said they recently seized similar counterfeit oxycodone pills that later tested positive for fentanyl.  Several overdoses in the Paducah-McCracken County area were linked to similar pills.

The teenager was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance with firearm enhancement and possession of a handgun by a minor.