Show-Me State Times

A Mexican national has been charged with drug trafficking offenses following the seizure of nearly 29 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Kansas City area.

Geovanni L. Cano, 39, faces a six-count criminal complaint issued on August 29, 2025. The charges include conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

Court documents state that from January to August 2025, Cano distributed about seven kilograms of methamphetamine to law enforcement during six controlled buys in Kansas City, Missouri. Authorities allege that Cano was distributing the drugs for a broker based in Mexico. On August 28, investigators arrested Cano while he had approximately 3.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in his possession. A federal search warrant executed at his residence in Kansas City, Kansas led to the discovery of an additional 18.6 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The criminal complaint notes that these are accusations and not evidence of guilt. "Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh Ragner is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, and IRS-Criminal Investigations.

The investigation was part of Operation Take Back America, under the Missouri Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). HSTFs were established by President Trump through Executive Order 14159 as joint operations between the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative aiming to address illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations by coordinating resources from multiple federal programs.

"This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Missouri Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."