Washingtonians among 19 charged in major drug operation tied to Sinaloa cartel

Washingtonians charged in Sinaloa cartel-connected drug bust

The DEA announced 19 people have been named in an indictment for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from Mexico to Washington state.

SEATTLE - The Drug Enforcement Administration announced 19 people have been named in an indictment for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin from Mexico to Washington state.

"The 269 pounds of fentanyl pills and powder seized in this case could yield a staggering 6.9 million lethal doses," said David Reames, Special Agent in Charge with the DEA Seattle Field Office. "This could have killed every person in every community in the Puget Sound region."

The backstory:

The DEA says this investigation started two years ago with undercover DEA agents buying drugs from dealers in Tacoma, eventually tracking the case through California, Arizona and eventually to two brothers, Rosario Abel "Joaquin" Camargo Banuelos, 31, and his brother Francisco "Fernando" Camargo Banuelos, 24.

"From their base in Sinaloa, both these men directed this group that dealt death and despair in our community," said Reames.

The drug trafficking ring, allegedly led by the Camargo Banuelos brothers, is believed to be tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, a transnational crime syndicate that is now designated a foreign terrorist organization.

The DEA says drug deals from this ring went as far north as Whidbey Island and Arlington, and as far south as Tacoma and the Lacey area.

"Some of these shipments were so large they were brought in by semi-trucks," said Teal Miller, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

Dig deeper:

With help from the DOJ, HSI and the Mexican government, along with a recent bust in early August which included the seizure of $650,000 and 11 firearms, the DEA says they were able to indict the following: 

• Jose Mejia Ortiz, 30, a citizen of Mexico, a courier and distributor
• Juan Carlos Garcia Olais, 28, a citizen of Mexico, a courier and distributor
• Jorge Boneo Nieblas, 21, distributor and stash house attendant
• Ivan Garcia Camacho, 30, distributor
• Eder Ramirez Pino, 33, distributor previously removed from the U.S.
• Rosendo Vazquez Medrano, 37, a redistributor who is a Mexican national previously removed from the U.S.
• Kevin Alexander Misacango Solano, 23, courier and distributor
• Karim Davis, 48, of Everett, Washington, a redistributor
• Tyler Johnson, 38, of Shoreline, Washington, a redistributor
• Israel Davis, 43, of Shoreline, Washington, a redistributor
• Alex Phan, 19, of Everett, Washington, a redistributor
• Derel Gabelein, 37, of Greenbank, Whidbey Island, Washington charged with conspiracy and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. At Gabelein’s residence, law enforcement seized bags of methamphetamine, fentanyl and other controlled substances.
• Aaron Knapp, 52, of Everett, Washington, charged with conspiracy and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. He was found to have more than two kilograms of fentanyl pills when law enforcement searched his residence on August 4, 2025.
• John Hardman, 57, of Everett, Washington, charged with conspiracy and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. His residence contained a brick of suspected fentanyl powder stamped with a swastika, as well as $50,000 in cash.
• Jose Felix German, 34, a Mexican citizen, was charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm. German allegedly acted as a money courier for the conspiracy. He was arrested at a target residence on August 4, 2025, and had a 9 mm pistol. In 2013, German was deported from the U.S. to Mexico. He did not have legal status in the U.S.

Isabel Villareal Zapien, a truck driver from Mexico, was arrested on state charges in January 2024 and is now charged federally in the 37-count indictment.

What's next:

The DEA says due to the amount of drugs involved, some defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.

Seattle DEA breaks down major drug operation tied to Sinaloa cartel

The DEA says their investigation into the massive drug smuggling operations started two years ago, with undercover agents buying drugs from dealers in Tacoma, tracking the case through California and Arizona, and eventually to two brothers.

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