KENNEWICK, Wash.-Seven people suspected of being involved in a Tri-Cities area drug trafficking operation have been indicted.
The federal indictments resulted from a yearlong investigation into a drug trafficking organization with gang ties that was allegedly responsible for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine by the Tri-Cities Metro Drug Task Force.
The initial investigation, which began in 2022 and resulted in the seizure of a large amount of fentanyl and meth, continued through most of 2023 under a partnership between METRO and the Tri-Cities Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to a press release from the Kennewick Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office assisted in the investigation and search warrants were obtained for locations in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and Benton County.
During the execution of the search warrants two pounds of cocaine, 76 pounds of meth, 238,000 fentanyl pills, $18,000 in drug proceeds and six guns were seized at various locations, according to the KPD.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought a 14 count indictment against seven people on charges ranging from conspiracy to distribute meth to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Suspects indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
A 42-year-old Kennewick man.A 31-year-old Richland woman.A 46-year-old Kennewick man.A 31-year-old Pasco man.A 42-year-old Pasco man.A 39-year-old Pasco man.A 32-year-old Kennewick man.
“This case demonstrates how vital our federal, state, and local partnerships are to dismantling violent drug trafficking organizations preying on our communities with poisons like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
The Metro Drug Task Force is a partnership of Detectives and Prosecutors from Benton and Franklin Counties, as well as Police Departments from throughout the Tri-Cities and the Benton and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices.
