CRIME BLOTTER

King County deputies intercept Burien drug ring tied to Sinaloa cartel

May 15, 2024, 11:47 AM

burien drug cartel...

Drugs, weapons and money recovered by the King County Sheriff's Office. (Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff's Office)

(Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff's Office)

The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) arrested a suspected drug trafficker in Burien who was connected to a Mexican cartel after investigating the suspect for months.

According to KCSO, the suspect was someone who was running drugs into Washington for the Sinaloa cartel — arguably the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, led mostly by Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s, also known as El Chapo, sons.

More local drug busts: 13 Western WA residents indicted for major drug ring, 350 pounds of drugs recovered

The arrest came after a two-month investigation that involved more than 100 hours of surveillance across the region.

Alongside the arrest, the investigation into the Burien drug ring uncovered nearly three pounds of fentanyl powder, 5,000 fentanyl/M30 pills, 10 grams of cocaine, three handguns, one AR-15 style short barrel rifle with a 60-round drum magazine, three vehicles and more than $180,000 in cash.

(Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff’s Office)

The suspect is currently booked in King County Jail on narcotics-related charges. It’s unclear whether deputies believe he had accomplices here.

More local drug busts: Shoreline officers get 64 pounds of fentanyl off the streets

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Crime Blotter

bank dispensary robbery spree world of weed...

Frank Lenzi

Seattle man who recruited teens for dispensary and bank robbery spree sentenced to 17 years

A Seattle man who recruited a crew of teenagers to carry out a string of robberies across the Puget Sound region has been sentenced to 17 years.

4 hours ago

street racers...

James Lynch

VIDEO: Street racers hit 107 mph in University Place, dashcam gives deputies key evidence

A late-night street race between a Bugatti and a Porsche on a busy Pierce County road led to the arrest of two 25-year-old men.

6 hours ago

Mason County tow truck hit...

Lexi Herda, KIRO 7 News

Tow-truck driver airlifted to hospital after being hit by car in Mason County

A tow-truck driver was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being hit by a car while on the job.

11 hours ago

seattle man dies in custody...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Man dies in police custody in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood

An investigation is underway after a man died in police custody Saturday evening in Seattle.

12 hours ago

light rail stabbing pioneer square...

Frank Lenzi

Stabbing victim boards Sound Transit light rail train in Seattle’s Pioneer Square

A person was stabbed in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood late Sunday afternoon and then boarded a northbound Sound Transit light rail train before first responders could intervene, the agency said.

1 day ago

stabbed light rail...

Jason Sutich

Seattle police investigating report of armed man near Jose Rizal Park in Beacon Hill

Seattle police are currently investigating a report of a man near Jose Rizal Park who is believed to be armed with a gun.

3 days ago

King County deputies intercept Burien drug ring tied to Sinaloa cartel