11 people arrested after major drug bust in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District
Jun 2, 2025, 6:34 PM
The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Seattle Police Department hold a press conference on "Operation Jungle Shrike." (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
(Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Seattle Police Department announced 14 people were indicted, 11 were arrested last week, and three are still being sought, following an 18-month undercover drug trafficking operation
The operation, dubbed “Operation Jungle Shrike,” began in November 2023 and relied heavily on wiretaps to track suspects’ movements and plans to distribute large quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
“Law enforcement seized 7 kilograms of cocaine, more than 20 lbs of methamphetamine, more than 80,000 suspected deadly fentanyl pills, and more than $350,000 in cash,” Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller said during a press conference Monday.
Drugs seized in “Operation Jungle Shrike” arrests. (Photo courtesy of James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
Prosecutors said they also seized 4 kilograms of heroin and 19 kilos of fentanyl powder, which is most concerning because it can be mixed with other drugs without anyone’s knowledge, making what one agent called “A deadly cocktail.”
“These criminals did the worst kind of damage to our community,” Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said during the press conference. “Armed with guns, including assault rifles, issuing deadly threats with seemingly nothing to lose. They preyed on some of our most vulnerable—the homeless, and the drug addicted.”
Previous arrests in ‘Operation Jungle Shrike’
Authorities call this round two of the operation, which saw its first arrests back in January. It is believed this organization transported drugs from Mexico, into California, then Oregon, and here to Seattle. Agents also seized handguns and semi-automatic assault rifles.
Guns seized in “Operation Jungle Shrike” arrests. (Photo courtesy of James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)
“Drugs and guns are evils that go together,” DEA Special Agent in Charge David Reames said during the press conference. “In this case, we targeted offenders who used both to prey on some of our most vulnerable communities. They dealt in death in the form of drugs and guns.”
Three people are still being sought, and agents said the investigation is not over and won’t be until the streets of western Washington are free from drugs and the crime that comes with it.
“We’re working the entire city trying to figure out what we can do to stop this influx of drugs into our city,” Barnes said. “There is a drug market here and that market perpetuates other types of crimes, including shoplifting, shoplifting rings, including social crime and disorder.”
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