Henrico Police arrest 14 on drug-trafficking, money-laundering charges following 3-year investigation

Henrico Police arrested 14 people on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges Friday, concluding a three-year investigation that also involved 11 other local, state and federal agencies.

Police also seized what they described as “significant quantities” of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, as well as cash and documents they said were incriminating to those arrested. The division’s organized crime section led the investigation, which began in the spring of 2018.

Police believe Henrico resident Nikike Tyler, 42, was the mastermind of the effort, through which they said money was laundered and the drugs were distributed and trafficked. The effort, police said, spanned the United States and extended as far away as parts of Mexico, with potentially illegal activity dating as far back as 2015, they said.

Tyler previously was arrested in 2011 in Maryland and charged with importation of heroin into the state, among a litany of other charges.

Tyler faces charges of being a drug kingpin; conspiring to commit money laundering; and conspiring to distribute narcotics and more than 5 pounds of marijuana.

Only one of the other 13 people – 34-year-old Richard D. Webb – is from Henrico. He faces charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 pounds of marijuana.

Seven of the remaining 12 are from Richmond, one is from Chesterfield, two are from Washington, D.C., one is from Maryland and one is from Los Angeles, California. Those charged range in age from 27 to 58.

Henrico Police worked in conjunction with the Chesterfield and Richmond police departments, the Henrico Division of Fire, the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, the Virginia State Police, the Maryland State Police, the .S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies to make the arrests.

“This type of comprehensive, multi-agency investigation and operation demonstrates the heart of policing is alive and well,” said lead OCS Detective C. R. Hoover. “No matter the circumstances or obstacles an agency may have been facing during the course of our investigation, there was no hesitation to step in and assist. Safeguarding our communities by removing illegal and harmful narcotics from our neighborhoods remains a priority.”