EVERETT — Federal and local law enforcement officers arrested 10 people Tuesday, including five from Snohomish County, in connection with three alleged interrelated drug and gun trafficking conspiracies.
Silvestre Ramos Martinez, 35, and Jose Manuel Ramos Ibarra “Kora,” 28, of Everett, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking related charges alongside Luis Humberto Lamas-Guzman, 25, of Lynnwood, Eduardo Villavicencio-Salido, 44, and Jose Navarro Hernandez “Robert,” 46, of Marysville, the release said.
After a year-long investigation, the arrests yielded around 100,000 fentanyl pills, 34 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 3.7 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly a kilogram of heroin, 8.7 kilos of cocaine and $40,000 in cash during a coordinated operation Tuesday, according to a United States Department of Justice press release.
“These defendants were trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin on the streets of western Washington. These drugs take a heavy toll on our community,” said United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd in the release. “Worse yet, this group trafficked in dozens of firearms – some of them high powered assault style weapons. Yesterday alone, law enforcement seized 34 firearms.”
Law enforcement was granted search warrants for 12 locations, including a largely undeveloped “stash property” in Centralia linked to Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga, 30. Inside, investigators found 25 kilos of suspected fentanyl powder, more than 90,000 fentanyl pills and two dozen firearms, the release said.
Zuniga was arrested on suspicion of criminal charges in his vehicle with 1.6 kilos of suspected fentanyl, the release said. Investigators seized heroin, fentanyl and a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol from his Sammamish home.
“This violent organization not only trafficked dangerous drugs but was responsible for putting firearms on our city streets,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes in the release. “I’m thankful for the great work of our Seattle police officers and our federal partners.”
This case was primarily investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seattle Police Department and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from violent criminals, the release said.
Over the last two days, the defendants, seven of whom were arrested on indictments for drug trafficking charges and three arrested in connection with criminal charges, had their first appearances in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, the release said. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys C. Andrew Colasurdo and Joseph Silvio.
“This heavily armed Transnational Criminal Organization threatened all of Western Washington by trafficking guns and fentanyl from Lewis County to Snohomish County,” said David F. Reames, special agent in charge from the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division, in the release. “Our entire region is safer today because of the efforts of DEA and our partners, who literally risked their lives to confront this threat to our communities.”
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan
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