Federal Agents Arrest 14 in Multi-State Seattle Drug Trafficking Ring

Federal and local law enforcement have dismantled what is being called the largest drug trafficking operation in Seattle in recent memory, resulting in the indictment of 14 individuals—11 of whom are now in custody and three still at large. The 18-month investigation, led by the FBI, DEA, and Seattle Police Department, centered on two drug rings exploiting vulnerable populations in the Chinatown-International District and homeless encampments, with operations extending into Oregon and California. Authorities seized drugs and weapons, including over $3 million worth of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl (in both powder and pill form), heroin, and 17 firearms. Several defendants were found to be in the country without legal status, and the operation was enabled by extensive wiretap surveillance. Officials emphasized the continued threat posed by fentanyl, especially in powder form, which can be mixed into deadly drug cocktails. The crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable communities and disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into the Pacific Northwest.