Feds, cops arrest 8 for allegedly dealing drugs at Southcenter Mall, other spots
SEATTLE -- In coordinated raids Wednesday, the FBI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Seattle Police Department took eight people into custody for a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced.
"Members of the conspiracy maintained drug stash houses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Search warrants were served in Vancouver, Covington, Puyallup, SeaTac, Tukwila, Seattle and Tacoma ... Some of the drug traffickers conducted their deals at a Mexican restaurant in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle: the Juan Colorado,” Durkan said.
“The members of this drug-trafficking conspiracy brought meth, cocaine and heroin to our communities preying on those with addictions to line their own pockets,” said Durkan. “This lengthy investigation led to seizures of illegal weapons as well as street drugs. This strong law enforcement collaboration is essential to keeping our communities s
According to court records, the investigation of the drug trafficking organization began in November 2011. The conspirators brought the drugs up from California and sold them at various locations ranging from auto wrecking yards in Auburn to outside restaurants at the Southcenter shopping mall, Durkan said. Many of the drug deals were made in or around the Juan Colorado Mexican restaurant on 14th Avenue South, she said.