TACOMA — A Mexican crime ring that authorities allege smuggled and distributed crystal methamphetamine has been shattered with raids in which 22 people were arrested, law enforcement officials said Thursday.
Cars, $100,000 in cash, 41 guns and 20 pounds of meth were seized over the previous two days in raids in the south Puget Sound area, the Olympic Peninsula and southwest Washington on operations of the Barragan family, based in Arteaga, Mexico, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan told a news conference.
Overall, investigators wrote in court filings, 89 pounds of meth, 50 guns and $225,000 cash were seized during the 14-month investigation. Thirty law enforcement agencies and about 300 officers were involved, 20 search warrants were issued and court orders were obtained for 17 wiretaps.
The Barragan family smuggled about 200 pounds of an unusually pure and highly addictive form of meth into the U.S. monthly, about half for sale in Washington state and the rest for distribution in Wisconsin and Georgia, Sullivan said.
Proceeds went to Mexico “to fund construction of lavish homes and other luxuries,” Sullivan said.
“These arrests have removed the largest drug trafficking organization in south Puget Sound and on the Olympic Peninsula.” he added in a news release. “Since 2004, we have sought to dismantle this dangerous drug organization.”
Thurston County sheriff’s Detective Jason Casebolt said Wednesday that six children were found at a house where five people were arrested outside Lacey, near Olympia. The children were placed with relatives or with Child Protective Services.
Twelve people were arrested at six locations in Grays Harbor County, and others were arrested in Cowlitz and Pacific counties.
Most of those in custody were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute meth and to engage in money laundering. Nineteen also face state drug- and weapons-related charges.
Seven, including three illegal immigrants, appeared Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. Preliminary appearances for the rest were set for Thursday. Trial was tentatively set for June 10.
An initial indictment was issued Feb. 21, and arrest warrants were issued late last month, court records showed.
Investigators wrote in court filings that the Barragan group was run by three brothers: Ulises “Mono” Barragan-Mendoza, of Lacey; Herminio “Memo” Barragan-Mendoza, of Olympia; and a third brother who remains in Mexico.
Others who have been arrested and were described as key players include the Barragan brothers’ cousins, Jose Barragan Zepeda and Fernando Barragan Zepeda, of Aberdeen, and Epifanio Barragan Estrada, of Woodland.
Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott said he bought drugs from the brothers’ grandfather in the late 1980s during an earlier investigation.
“We have dealt with components of this organization for many years,” Scott said.
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