WASHINGTON
Eleven people were arrested Wednesday in Washington and Nevada in connection with a large drug smuggling and distribution ring operating in four western Washington counties, officials announced Thursday.
An additional person was already in immigration custody.
The arrests coincided with the execution of 24 court-authorized search warrants for properties located in King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Yakima, and Franklin Counties, officials said.
The searched locations included a restaurant in Everett, an auto body shop in Sedro Wooley, and a car dealership in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Ten of the defendants arrested to date are charged in an indictment with distributing heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Additionally, two defendants are charged by criminal complaint.
Over the course of the six-month investigation, law enforcement seized eight kilos of methamphetamine, two kilos of cocaine and nearly a kilo of heroin.
Law enforcement also seized more than $117,000 in cash.Wednesday, agents seized an additional two kilos of cocaine, more than $180,000 cash and more than 20 firearms – including a loaded AK47.
These defendants are currently in custody:
ERIC MARQUEZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 24
HECTOR HUGO GARCIA-GUTIERREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26
BALTAZAR REYES-GARCIA; Camano Island, WA – Age 44
ANGEL SERRANO-CARRENO; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 29
HECTOR CONTRERAS-IBARRA; Pasco, WA – Age 32
IVAN BETANZOS-TORRES; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26
PABLO CATANO; Renton, WA, – Age 36
EDGAR GONZALEZ-TORREZ; Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 21
OSCAR LUNA-MERCADO; Everett, WA – Age 31
MIGUEL VALDOVINOS-CISNEROS; Kent, WA – Age 18
RIGOBERTO CASTELLANO-HERRERA, Mt. Vernon, WA – Age 26
ANTONIO GOMEZ, Burien, WA – Age 28
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
***This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The investigation was led by: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in conjunction with the FBI, Whatcom Gang & Drug Task Force and Skagit County Inter-Agency Drug Task Force.
The investigation was supported by: the Auburn Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Snohomish County Regional Drug & Gang Task Force, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Everett Police Department and Seattle Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by HSI; CBP and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.