LEWISTON, ID – A Lewiston man was arrested after a large quantity of fentanyl was found in his vehicle on Wednesday night.

Rhyan J. Harrell, 32, is facing charges for trafficking fentanyl after law enforcement officers reportedly found approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills in his possession during a traffic stop in front of his residence.

The arrest followed a months-long investigation by the Lewiston Police Department in coordination with the Quad Cities Drug Task Force. Detectives began surveilling Harrell in late 2024.  The investigation revealed he was allegedly selling fentanyl pills and powder from a residence on 9th Avenue in Lewiston. Investigators also determined Harrell allegedly frequently traveled to Pasco, Washington, to restock his supply.

In April 2025, detectives obtained a GPS tracking warrant for Harrell’s vehicle. On April 30, they observed Harrell travel to Pasco and return to Lewiston later that evening. Officers conducted a traffic stop around 9:57 p.m. and detained Harrell and a passenger.

During the stop, a K9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers searched the car and discovered roughly 1,000 fentanyl pills inside a black checkered Louis Vuitton-style bag. The bag was locked and matched a key found on Harrell’s keychain. According to the affidavit, Harrell initially denied knowledge of the pills but later allegedly admitted to acquiring them in the Tri-Cities. According to police, he stated he had not paid full price and was “fronted” part of the supply.

Harrell was booked into the Nez Perce County Jail and charged with felony trafficking. He appeared in court on Thursday.  Bond was set at $250,000.  A preliminary hearing has been set for May 14.