EVERETT — They agreed to meet Thursday evening in a parking lot at the Everett Mall.

A man on a cellphone told the prospective buyer he’d be driving a white van with a ladder on top.

Twenty minutes later, a painter’s van arrived.

The Everett man, 36, handed over an apple box.

Inside was 12 pounds of goods, but it wasn’t apples.

Seattle narcotics detectives, with the assistance of the Snohomish County Drug Task Force, arrested the man for investigation of selling a dozen pounds of methamphetamine worth about $100,000. The value of the drug depends on how much of the product has been cut and in what quantities it is sold.

The man allegedly said he’d been given the apple box by an acquaintance to give to a customer, according to court records. He was found in possession of $2,042 in cash.

The acquaintance — a Wenatchee man with children ages 8 to 17 — also was arrested for investigation of violating drug laws. Both were booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

Lt. Scott Parker, a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy assigned to the drug task force, said meth remains a popular drug on the street. Lately, it has been overshadowed by what some in law enforcement are calling a heroin epidemic as well and increasing deaths from heroin use.

“The supply of meth and heroin out there seems to be unprecedented,” Parker said. “The market is flooded. There seems to be plenty of supply.”

Both suspects made brief appearances in Everett District Court on Friday.

Each has a family and a job and has lived in Washington for many years.

The Everett man was released while prosecutors decide on criminal charges.

The Wenatchee man remained in jail on $25,000 bail.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.