Authorities say that between July 2 and July 8 they seized 169 quarter sticks of homemade dynamite, 23 half sticks of homemade dynamite, 24 one-pound explosive devices constructed using beer cans, $5660 dollars in cash and small amounts of narcotics.
The seizures happened in the southwestern portion of Platte County around the Barry Road area.
Douglas P. Smith, 44, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, was arrested Wednesday on illegal explosive and drug charges. Bond was set at $15,000 pending formal arraignment.
“This investigation and the related seizures went a long way in ensuring that potentially dangerous homemade explosive devices were not on the street during the Fourth of July weekend,” said Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen.
“The cooperation of the involved agencies made the holiday weekend safer for Platte County and Kansas City residents.”
The investigation is ongoing and officials said there could be related operations outside of the Kansas City metro area.