The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided a popular recording studio in Dallas Thursday morning, hauling away cars and arresting multiple people.
KFI Studios, located on Ross Avenue near downtown Dallas, has brought in some of the most popular rappers in the nation. “A lot of local rappers, a lot of famous rappers from other states. We’ve linked up with different people here,” stated Dino West, producer.
The recording studio raid caught some in the industry by surprise. “This is mind-boggling. I don’t even know,” said West.
At least eight other locations around Dallas were also raided, with police allegedly confiscating guns and drugs at various locations, WFAA reported. The raids allegedly followed months of investigation, according to the news outlet’s sources.
Dallas Police and the DEA have not released specific information on the raids, but Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia remarked, “Any time you take drugs off the streets, it helps bring down violent crime in the city. We do have a drug sales problem in our city. Unfortunately, those individuals are often involved with firearms when they are engaging in drug sales,” said Garcia.
A focus on guns, drugs, and gangs has helped reduce violent crime, Garcia said.
One of the owners of KFI Studios, who goes by the name Nikko, said the people apprehended in the raid were patrons and tenants of the building and did not involve any of the owners.
“No KFI management or owners were involved in illegal activity,” he told WFAA. “None of us have been placed under arrest or investigation.”
The Dallas Express has reached out to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dallas Police Department, and KFI Studios for comment.
The Dallas Police Department referred all questions to the DEA. The DEA said Friday afternoon it cannot give specifics of the raid yet. Calls to KFI recording studio went unanswered Friday morning.
