MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Local, federal agents arrest 11 drug traffickers connected to massive cartel operation

Oct 26, 2022, 5:30 PM | Updated: 5:56 pm

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown...

Nick Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Federal agents revealed an operation targeting drug cartels has led to more than a dozen arrests and large amounts of drugs seized during a press conference Wednesday.

Nick Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, said investigators stopped a group of traffickers moving drugs up I-5 from Mexico to Washington state.

“We now have 19 people charged related to these three different drug trafficking groups,” Brown said at a press conference.

More from Darren Dedo: 5,000 fentanyl pills discovered, suspect arrested in Auburn

The FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and Seattle Police worked in tandem during the sting, seizing vast amounts of narcotics in the process.

“These defendants were using firearms to protect massive amounts of drugs being brought into this district, Western Washington,” Brown said. “Fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and others.”

Brown also said the majority of the guns were stolen.

Have a tip on a crime story? Message Darren Dedo on Twitter or email him here.

MyNorthwest News

teacher child molestation settlement...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

$23M settlement reached in child molestation case against Peninsula School District

Nearly two years later, two cases accusing Peninsula School District of failing to protect students have settled for $23.2 million.

2 minutes ago

Starbucks (5)...

Julia Dallas

Starbucks releases spooky Halloween items ahead of holiday menu launch

Starbucks has already announced its winter menu, but it just launched a spooky surprise.

22 minutes ago

Tom Skerritt dead...

MARK KENNEDY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ dies at 93

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor who embodied a solid, wry authority figure, has died. He was 93.

27 minutes ago

Pike Place Día de Muertos...

Manda Factor

Pike Place Market hosts first Día de Muertos celebration Friday

Join the inaugural Día de Muertos celebration at Pike Place, honoring loved ones with vibrant entertainment and community spirit.

1 hour ago

trading cards stolen cali...

Associated Press

At least $963K in trading cards stolen from a FedEx truck near PSA headquarters

Police in California are investigating the theft of trading cards worth at least $963,000 that were taken from a FedEx truck parked outside of a company that verifies memorabilia.

2 hours ago

copper wire theft lighting lakewood...

Chris Sullivan

Wire theft knocks out more lighting along I-5 in Lakewood

Here we go again. Thieves who ripped wire from Washington State Department of Transportation electrical boxes impacted drivers in Lakewood earlier this week.

2 hours ago

Local, federal agents arrest 11 drug traffickers connected to massive cartel operation