FBI busts 8 in sweeping Puget Sound-area drug raids
Sep 4, 2013, 2:08 PM | Updated: 2:24 pm
Eight people are in custody after federal agents busted a big drug ring during a series of raids Wednesday across Western Washington.
The FBI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Seattle Police Department partnered to execute search warrants in Seattle, Tacoma, Covington, Puyallup, SeaTac, Tukwila and Vancouver, Wash.
Members of the conspiracy maintained drug stash houses throughout the Pacific Northwest, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.
“The members of this drug trafficking conspiracy brought meth, cocaine and heroin to our communities preying on those with addictions to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “This lengthy investigation led to seizures of illegal weapons as well as street drugs. This strong law enforcement collaboration is essential to keeping our communities safe.”
Some of the drug traffickers conducted their deals at the Juan Colorado Mexican restaurant in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood.
Court documents say the investigation began in November 2011. Surveillance indicates the conspirators brought the drugs from California and sold them at various locations, ranging from auto wrecking yards in Auburn to outside restaurants at the Southcenter shopping mall, according to Durkan’s office.
“Today’s operation is just the beginning of the end for an aggressive drug and weapons trafficking organization,” FBI Special Agent-In-Charge Laura M. Laughlin said in a statement. “The FBI will continue to work with the Seattle Police Department, ATF and other law enforcement agencies to bring an end to the drugs, guns and violence that these criminals bring to our streets.”
Suspects arrested for drug distribution Wednesday include Jose Ayala Mazoraquil, 39, of Tukwila; Alfonso Rojo Lopez, 26, and Joseph Edward Bell, 62, of SeaTac; and Pedro Gomez, 27, and Benjamin Castro, 45, of Seattle. Three people were arrested on criminal complaints, including Victor Amaya Cruz, 24, of Auburn.
The defendants were scheduled to make an initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
