CRIME WATCH: West Seattle warrant served during regional drug-trafficking raids

You might have seen regional-news reports about more than a dozen arrests today in what federal agents describe as “an investigation involving armed drug trafficking.” We’ve learned that one of the warrants was served in West Seattle. A reader told us a major law-enforcement response including federal agents and local officers had been at her apartment building near Westwood Village early today. We didn’t get an address but did confirm with authorities that one of the search warrants involved today was for an address on SW Barton. We don’t know yet if an arrest resulted at that location; the court documents made public so far don’t match addresses to names. In all, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says 12 people were arrested today in King and Pierce counties, indicted for alleged drug-distribution conspiracy. Its announcement adds, “Today alone officers seized 48 guns, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 2 pounds of methamphetamine, several thousand fentanyl pills and two illegal marijuana grows. An additional $120,000 cash was also seized.” Agencies participating in the raids included FBI, DEA, Seattle Police, HSI, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, King County Sheriff’s Office, Valley SWAT, Kent Police Department, ATF, and Narcotics/Currency/Firearms K9 support from seven agencies.

Sillygoose July 1, 2021 (7:45 am)

BRAVO!BRAVO!BRAVO! This is fantastic news thank you law enforcement for continually enforcing the laws for the safety of the citizens of Seattle. We support you, we appreciate you!!! Back the Blue!!!

Benjamin July 1, 2021 (8:57 am)

Yes. We can back the blue. But we must not keep asking them to spend their time and our money on the impossible task of preventing people from consuming mind altering substances. Let’s just declare victory on the War on Drugs and go home. https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/our-issues/drug-policy/ 

Chemist July 1, 2021 (10:38 am)

Considering that a not-insignificant amount of traffic deaths involve people who’ve consumed mind altering substances, can we back SDOT but also not keep asking them to spend their time and our money on the impossible task of zero traffic deaths? Let’s just declare “Victory” and go home.
bolo July 1, 2021 (11:04 am)

Let’s hope they got those pushers that prey on the unhoused encampments, plying them with meth in exchange for stolen goods, items stolen from you and me.

Lisa July 1, 2021 (10:11 am)

Great news!!!! Thank you to each and every person and K9!!!! And WSB for sharing this story :) Westwood is so sketchy and knowing that all that cache was discovered practically next door, frankly makes me feel more uncomfortable. And makes me feel weird in another way .. because when I witness certain types of individuals, my instincts tell me to go in the opposite direction. Typically, I try to not judge people but common sense indicates that the druggies, the dealers and the guns and money and narcotics will only yield unsafe and evil environments. I live very nearby and haven’t shopped QFC for almost two years because the shoplifting I would see – every single time I’d go there. Not to mention the ones stumbling or jetting out of the bathroom that has the sharps container in it. And there, it is the same type of people who’d you’d expect to see putting bottles of booze in their backpacks. Welcome to Westwood!!

coffeedude July 1, 2021 (10:51 am)

What happens to the cash that is seized from drug arrests? I have always wondered.

Jeff V July 1, 2021 (11:42 am)

They take and keep all the cash, goods, and assets seized in the raid. It’s called Civil Asset Forfeiture.

Mike July 1, 2021 (11:10 am)

Love it!

scubafrog July 1, 2021 (3:37 pm)

Nancy Reagan lives! The war on drugs was lost the day that whacko declared the war. You want to make a dent? Stop the CIA-backed Colombian narcos, and destroy the cartels. These little raids? A little show, so LEA and politicians can put some guns and drugs on a table, and say “hey look at us, we’re doing something!” Ha! And the previous comments prove that the public eat it up.

Yessss! July 1, 2021 (5:09 pm)

Totally. Gives all the racists a reason to hate on the southern part of west seattle, too. “L00k those people use drugs!!11!!”
- Rhonda July 2, 2021 (1:28 pm)
  
  It’s racist to assume that those who were arrested in this sting near Westwood Village are non-white, so that’s on you.
anonyme July 2, 2021 (6:36 am)

Agree, Scubafrog. I’m not saying that local law enforcement should not enforce drug laws, but it’s kind of meaningless when you look at the power and scope of the cartels. It seems like this could be dealt with if there were some kind of international coalition, but when the cartels essentially own an entire continent, that doesn’t seem likely. I’m all for giving police their due, but how about enforcing a whole lot of other laws, too? The ones that don’t involve show & tell…?

Sorry, comment time is over.