The letter
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Fourteen people have been charged with drug trafficking that spanned several states and originated in the Chinatown international district in Seattle.
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The defendants are accused of alleged trade in cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and meth from California to West -Washington, often use violence and exploiting vulnerable members of the community.
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Authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs, including enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Seattle, and more than $ 350,000 cash, with three suspects still in general.
Seattle – Eleven people are now in the federal detention after an extensive investigation into drug trafficking that several states spanned and originated in the Chinatown international district in Seattle, local and federal officials announced on Monday.
The joint investigation – led by the police of Seattle and supported by the FBI, DEA and the office of the American lawyers – focused on a violent drug ring accused of exploiting vulnerable members of the community, in particular those who experience homelessness and addiction.
“In this case we focused on perpetrators who used both [drugs and guns] To hunt some of our most vulnerable communities, said “David Rames, special agent responsible for the Dea's Seattle division.” They acted in death in the form of drugs and weapons. “
What we know
The operation is part of a constant federal action that led to the arrest of 14 people in total – with five earlier in custody taken in January during an earlier sweep. Authorities say that this second wave brings the total to 11 to 11 in custody, with three suspects still in general.
The police chief of Seattle, Shon Barnes, said that the people involved have “caused the worst kind of damage to our community”, referring to the impact that the suspects had in the CID district, one of the oldest and most cultural rich areas of the city. For months the area of revitalization efforts, including an increased presence of the police, improved sanitary facilities and a new city ambassador program.
But officials say that the drug activity behind the scenes had continued unabated.
In the course of 18 months, researchers say that the group of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin has sold and sold, while they often use or threaten violence.
“This is a big hit,” said Special Agent Rames, while the authorities described the reach of the operation, which went beyond Washington.
“We followed this case outside of Seattle and Washington State to Oregon and California, while drug traders made frequent journeys, sometimes twice a week, up and down on the west coast,” said Mike Herrington, special agent responsible for the FBI Seattle Field Office.
What they say
Officials believe that the drugs from Mexico are depicted and then divided into Los Angeles California, where they made their journey oregon and to the west of Washington. In March alone, agents seized narcotic drugs with an estimated street value of more than $ 3 million – but human trafficking continued, even after those attacks.
“We even heard one of the suspects that arranged drug agreements of a costco,” said Tuth Luthy Miller, who acted in the American lawyer for the western district of Washington.
Among the items that were seized during the investigation, seven kilograms of cocaine, more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine, around 80,000 suspected fentanyl pills and more than $ 350,000 were in cash.
“That is enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Seattle. Twice,” said Rames.
Many of the suspects are American citizens, but some were previously deported and the country was reintroduced illegally, the authorities said.
What is the following
As part of its dedication to improve safety in the CID, the city of Seattle recently rolled out a neighborhood ambassador program that was aimed at welcome visitors and guaranteeing the cleanliness of the community. But Chief Barnes emphasized that the work is not nearly over yet.
“Round four? You know, the reward to do a good job in the police work, you have to do it all over again,” said Barnes.
Three suspects will remain free from Monday. The already arrested 11 people are in federal detention, with hearings from the court case that are planned in the coming days.
The source
Information In this article came from the office of the American lawyers, the western district of Washington.
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