SEATTLE — Officials announced 12 indictments Thursday in connection to what they called a "violent drug trafficking gang" accused of distributing fentanyl in Seattle and Everett.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Seattle, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other partners worked on the large case.
According to the agencies, 11 suspects were indicted on drug distribution and weapons charges and a twelfth defendant with ties to the group was indicted on illegal weapons possession. It followed a year-long wire-tap investigation sparked when authorities intercepted a shipment of fentanyl at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer said it was the largest coordinated operation of this nature for the HSI Seattle office. They called in 600 officers from 10 different agencies to help serve dozens of warrants Wednesday at locations thought to be associated with the operation.
"These organizations are in business for two reasons: one, to chaos and fear in our community, and two, to make money," Hammer said. "We want to make sure we're removing both of those from the equation."
Agents seized drugs, guns, cash and jewelry and said more arrests could be forthcoming as they continue to investigate the group, which was primarily working from the University District neighborhood.
"Not only were they reckless and dangerous and violent, but they were also distributing fentanyl and other drugs into our community," SPD Deputy Chief Eric Barden said.
Investigators believe the group was also associated with a fatal shooting at a hookah lounge in South Seattle in 2023.
Along with dozens of firearms, agents located a number of Glock switches, which are illegal and allow users to turn a basic pistol into an automatic weapon, according to Hammer.
"They're weapons of death," Hammer said. "You talk about recklessness- you can't control the spray that goes down."
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Tessa Gorman says this operation was paired with other efforts to curb trafficking into the United States and prevent drug use in Washington.
"Fentanyl is killing too many people," Gorman said. "It's taking away our young people. It's robbing our college students of their dreams. It's robbing parents of their children."