A weeklong law-enforcement operation surrounding the Gathering of the Juggalos in Missouri resulted in the seizure of more than 700 pounds of illegal drugs and controlled substances, including hundreds of pounds of psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office released the preliminary results Aug. 26 after deputies spent Aug. 16 through Aug. 22 conducting an enforcement operation around the 26th annual Gathering of the Juggalos at Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat in the rural Macks Creek area.

The numbers were substantial.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies conducted 305 traffic stops, carried out approximately 12 K-9 deployments and responded to another 80 calls for service in the Roach and Macks Creek areas during the operation.

But the largest figure came from what authorities said they found.

Deputies reported seizing more than 700 pounds of illegal drugs and other controlled substances over the course of the operation. The preliminary inventory included 288.5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and 242.5 pounds of marijuana.

Authorities also reported recovering 33.5 grams of powdered cocaine, one gram of crack cocaine, 1.5 grams of methamphetamine, five MDMA tablets, 2.5 grams of DMT powder, a quarter-ounce of DMT oil and 135.5 grams of ketamine.

Another 33 grams were identified by authorities as a ketamine/fentanyl mixture, while 2.5 grams of unidentified substances and 28 items of drug paraphernalia were also seized.

Four Arrests Announced During Operation

Several of the largest seizures were detailed by the sheriff’s office before the festival had even ended.

Authorities announced Aug. 20 that four people had been arrested during roadside interdiction investigations connected to the operation. The charges against them are allegations, and all four are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Kevin M. Jones, 45, of Easton, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged with first-degree drug trafficking and delivery of a controlled substance after authorities said deputies seized 128 pounds of marijuana, 2.5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and more than $5,000 in cash during a roadside investigation. He was being held without bond when the sheriff’s office announced the arrest.

Dennis A. Pradhan, 49, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was arrested on multiple trafficking and controlled-substance delivery charges. Authorities alleged that deputies recovered 93 pounds of marijuana, 124 pounds of mushrooms, 135.5 grams of ketamine, 33 grams of a ketamine/fentanyl mixture and 66.5 grams of MDMA during a roadside interdiction investigation. He was also being held without bond at the time of the announcement.

Robyn E. Weiford, 34, and Jesse A. Williams, 38, both of Bear, Delaware, were charged with delivery of a controlled substance after authorities said more than 40 pounds of edibles were seized. The sheriff’s office said both were released on $50,000 bond.

305 Traffic Stops During the Week

The enforcement operation extended beyond narcotics investigations.

Deputies reported handling five assault cases, six fraud cases and 13 complaints involving careless and imprudent driving. Authorities also responded to reports involving theft, property damage, disturbances and other alleged offenses.

The sheriff’s office said more than a dozen deputies worked the event throughout the week, putting in more than 550 combined hours on eight- and 12-hour shifts. That figure did not include hours worked by communications and detention officers, command staff or personnel from assisting agencies.

Camden County deputies were joined by the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation and local emergency and fire agencies.

Sheriff Chris Edgar characterized the event as a major public-safety undertaking and credited the results to cooperation between the participating agencies. The sheriff’s office emphasized that its Aug. 26 numbers remained preliminary and said additional information could emerge as investigations and case reviews continued.

Gathering of the Juggalos Moves to Missouri

The Gathering of the Juggalos is the long-running festival created around Insane Clown Posse and the Juggalo fan community.

The 26th edition was held at Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat in Macks Creek, marking the festival’s move to Missouri after several years in Ohio. The main festival ran Aug. 19 through Aug. 22, while the law-enforcement operation began several days earlier on Aug. 16.

The event has developed its own subculture since its launch more than two decades ago, bringing together fans for several days of hip-hop performances, wrestling, comedy and other entertainment centered around Insane Clown Posse and the broader Juggalo community.

This year's Missouri gathering also brought an unusually visible law-enforcement presence.

By the time the week was over, Camden County authorities were reporting hundreds of traffic stops and a drug haul measured not in ounces or even dozens of pounds, but more than 700 pounds.

The sheriff’s office says those figures are still preliminary.