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HIDTA Integrated Task Force
On January 23 and 24, 2002, the HIDTA
Integrated Task Force under DEA direction, coordinated the efforts of
approximately 220 law enforcement officers in the execution of 40 federal
search warrants in a case that involved the distribution of the
hallucinogenic drug MDMA (Ecstasy). Federal indictments charged 31
defendants with conspiracy to distribute 50,000 tablets of Ecstasy, 5
kilograms of cocaine and a half-kilo of Meth. To date this 18-month
investigation has resulted in the arrest of 63 individuals and the seizure
of approximately $450,000 in cash and property and 13 vehicles. The drugs
were being distributed at RAVE parties and dance clubs (including the Club
FX depicted in the photo below) catering to younger clientele, many under
age 21. This was the first major MDMA investigation in the Pacific
Northwest and the second Title III MDMA investigation in the Nation.
Assisting agencies included: DEA offices in Los Angeles, Portland, Blaine,
Sacramento, Phoenix, Orlando and Ottawa; Seattle Police Department; King
County Sheriff’s Office; Eastside Narcotics Task Force; South Snohomish
County Drug Task Force; Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force; Oak Harbor
Police Department; the Portland Bureau of Police; Naval Criminal
Investigative Service; U.S. Army CID – Ft. Lewis; IRS and INS.
HIDTA Transportations Group
On November 16, 2001, the
HIDTA Transportation Group arrested a suspect
carrying over 18 Kilograms of Ecstasy tablets traveling
from Amsterdam to SEA-TAC International Airport. The
suspect identified two other couriers working for the same Drug
Trafficking Organization that were also transporting Ecstasy through
SEA-TAC.
Thurston County Narcotics Task Force
In January 2002, the Thurston
County Narcotics Task Force made an arrest of a
local storeowner when he sold nine cases of pseudo-ephedrine
tablets to an undercover detective. The arrest was
part of a sting operation conducted by the task force in which
8 local stores were visited and 5 sold pseudo-ephedrine products
in violation of state law. In addition, a multi-pound Mexican
drug trafficker was arrest in February when he delivered 2
pounds of Meth and ½ kilo of cocaine to an undercover detective.
The investigation indicates the suspect was the head of
small DTO operating out of Oregon.
Northern Border Task Force
From December 2001 through February
2002, the Northern Border Task Force reported numerous seizures of
marijuana from commercial trucks being operated by Canadian citizens or
residents of Canada. The following is a chronology of the seizures:
December 18, 2001 – 157 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
scrap cardboard
December 22, 2001 – 320 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
waste paper
January 6, 2002 – 181 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
recycled clothing
January 9, 2002 – 71 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting scrap
cardboard
January 15, 2002 – 669 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
Foster’s Beer
January 23, 2002 – 52 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting scrap
paper
February 19, 2002 – 29 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
bottled water
February 20, 2002 – 29 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
bottled water
February 26, 2002 – 237 KG’s of marijuana in a truck transporting
evergreen trees
A photo depicting the 669 KG’s
of marijuana mixed in with 1260 cans of Foster’s beer is depicted below.
Although, the use of commercial trucks driven by Canadian citizens or
residents dominated the significant seizures made, there was an
interesting seizure made from a horse trailer. On February 14, 2002, a
pickup truck pulling a horse in a trailer arrived at the Peace Arch and
continued south to Portland, Oregon, where four arrests (all Canadian
citizens) were made. The driver of the pickup advised, the registered
owner of the horse trailer had hired him to deliver the trailer, horse,
and "special oats" - seventeen hockey bags containing 346 pounds
of BC Bud.
L.E.A.D. Narcotics Task Force
On January 14th, 2002, the L.E.A.D.
Narcotics Task Force, with Yakima DEA, executed two federal search
warrants following an investigation of a criminal organization that
includes several Meth cooks and distributors from the Grandview area. The
case had been actively pursued over the period of a year and involved 12
clandestine labs. It was the first continuing criminal enterprise
investigation involving Meth cooks that had been conducted in the area.
DEA Tacoma Task Force
On February 27, 2002, the DEA
Tacoma Task Force arrested two suspects (one in Kent, one in Federal Way)
after they delivered 3 kilograms of cocaine to a cooperating witness.
Following the arrests, three federal search warrants were executed at an
apartment complex in Federal Way and an additional 139 grams of cocaine
was seized.
Inside this issue:
Message from the Director
Prevention / Treatment
Initiatives by Steve Freng
WSIN Indexing
Terrorism Subjects by
Jerry Adams
Watch Center by Jon Thorpe
Other HIDTA
Newsletters
Watch Center’s phone: 1.888.388.DRUG (3784)
Meth Tip Line: 1.888.609.METH (6384)
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