Kansas man charged with growing poppies to manufacture opium - KSHB

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas man faces more than 20 years in prison for allegedly growing poppies at a Clay County home.

Matthew Pfeiffer, 43, of Morganville, has been charged with attempting to manufacture opium, manufacturing thebaine and using a phone to further drug trafficking.

A federal indictment states that on June 4, officers conducted a search at Pfeiffer’s home after learning that he was “growing poppies and planning to manufacture heroin,” according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

More than 4,000 plants were seized.

“Opium poppies are an unfamiliar sight in Kansas,” McAllister said in the release, “and we want to keep it that way. It is unlawful to grow poppies for the purpose of producing opiates.”

Pfeiffer could be fined up to $1 million on the charges related to manufacturing, in addition to the prison sentence. He also faces up to four years in prison and could pay up to $250,000 in fines on the other charge.

The Drug Enforcement Agency and Riley County police led the investigation.

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