Hyannis Fentanyl Trafficker Behind Bars Awaiting Dangerousness Hearing, Cops Say

ABOVE FILE IMAGE: Liam Bassett’s booking photo from a recent Barnstable Police arrest… HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – A 41-year-old Hyannis man remains in custody after a joint Barnstable Police and DEA operation exposed a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation at a local apartment—according to police reports—with investigators seizing potentially lethal drugs and cash in a raid that underscores the ongoing opioid/fentanyl crisis on Cape Cod. According to a January 2, 2026, police report filed by Detective Liam Loiselle in Barnstable District Court, the Barnstable Police Narcotics Unit and DEA Cape Cod Resident Office spent the prior month probing Liam Bassett for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine from his residence at 27 Parkway Place, Apartment D. The case was built on multiple controlled buys by a confidential informant, prompting search warrants to be issued that morning by Clerk Magistrate Jennifer Bright for Bassett’s person and home. Surveillance commenced around 10:00 a.m. on January 2. By 11:10 a.m., detectives observed Bassett exiting the building’s rear door and entering a vehicle in a parking lot behind 71 Main Street. Unmarked units intercepted the car as it attempted to exit onto Main Street, detaining Bassett from the front passenger seat. He was handcuffed, read his Miranda rights by Detective Loiselle, and informed of the warrants. Other occupants were briefly detained but not charged. Meanwhile, officers approached the residence, announced the warrant, and gained entry from a tenant. They secured Apartment D before returning Bassett for a personal search that yielded nothing. The apartment search, however, revealed a significant haul: approximately 65.5 grams of crack cocaine (charged as trafficking in 36 grams or more but less than 100 grams), 35 grams of fentanyl packaged in 2.5-gram “quarter stick” baggies with a purple tint suggesting a xylazine adulterant (charged as trafficking in 18 grams or more but less than 36 grams), 40 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, Suboxone strips, orange Adderall pills, drug packaging materials, digital scales, and $2,550 in cash.   HN NOTE: According to the DEA and other online sources, xylazine, often called “tranq” on the street, is a veterinary sedative primarily used for animals like horses and cattle. It’s not approved for human use by the FDA. In recent years, it has emerged as a common adulterant (an intentionally added substance to stretch or enhance effects) in the illicit drug supply, particularly mixed with fentanyl, heroin, and sometimes cocaine or methamphetamine. This practice has been documented in the U.S. since the early 2000s but has surged since around 2019, with the DEA reporting it in seized drugs across nearly all states. Detective Loiselle field-tested the orange pills with a TrueNarc Raman Spectrometer, confirming they contained amphetamine consistent with Adderall. The evidence was transported to headquarters for processing. All of the narcotics seized, including the fentanyl, will undergo further analysis at the Massachusetts State Police Drug Lab. Bassett faces charges including Trafficking Cocaine (36-100 grams), Trafficking Fentanyl (18-36 grams), Possession with Intent to Distribute Mushrooms (Class C), Possession with Intent to Distribute Adderall (Class B), and Possession of Suboxone (Class B). He was held on $25,000 cash bail ahead of his January 5 arraignment in Barnstable District Court, where he was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing on January 12. The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. As of January 9, 2026—the time of this report—no further updates have been reported, with Bassett still behind bars awaiting the hearing. This bust highlights law enforcement’s efforts to stem the flow of deadly fentanyl mixtures in the region, where “quarter stick” sales contribute to ongoing overdose risks on Cape Cod. HN Reminder: The details contained in the above report are based on information from court documents and police sources. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. IN OTHER NEWS:  Single-Vehicle Rollover Crash on Route 6 in Dennis Yesterday…  January 8, 2026 – Troopers from the State Police Yarmouth Barracks responded to a single-vehicle crash yesterday morning.  The “rollover” occurred on Route 6 westbound at the Route 134 overpass in Dennis around 6:30 a.m., according to Massachusetts State Police. The sole occupant of the vehicle was partially ejected and suffered head lacerations. The driver was transported to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment. State Police reported no further updates on the driver’s condition as of last evening, January 8. HN note: no further updates is relatively “good news” in this particular case, as the driver’s injuries were described as being severe, according to initial radio transmissions. The crash caused traffic backups during yesterday’s morning commute. Slippery road conditions were reported throughout the overnight hours across the area. Drivers are urged to exercise extra caution this time of year, especially during morning commutes. IN OTHER NEWS:     Crash on Carla Road Not Related to Slippery Conditions HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – There have been a number of recent crashes caused by slippery road conditions across the area, last evening’s crash on Carla Road was not one of them. Hyannis News (HN) had been monitoring for icy road-related incidents last evening but thankfully found none as of 3:30 a.m. this morning… Photos above: The driver of the vehicle, a woman reportedly on her way to work, became wedged underneath a truck’s dump body. She was evaluated by rescue personnel at the scene but did not require further medical treatment. A tow truck was needed to pull her vehicle free before it could be towed away. The Barnstable Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash. P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by Norah Jones… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]