Alleged meth ring busted in Thurston County; 22 arrested
By Christine Clarridge

Seattle Times staff reporter

Drug Enforcement Agency agents and local police have arrested 22 members of an alleged Thurston County drug ring they say was moving as much as 200 pounds of nearly pure methamphetamine a month into Washington and other states.

Members of what federal agents have labeled the "Barragan Drug Trafficking Organization" lived the high life on profits from their "highly addictive poison," U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan said at a Tacoma news conference this morning.

They have been charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

According to court documents, the group smuggled hundreds of pounds of "highly pure" methamphetamine from Michoacan, Mexico, into the United States for distribution in various states, including California, Washington and Georgia.

"These arrests have removed the largest drug-trafficking organization in south Puget Sound and on the Olympic Peninsula," Sullivan said. "For many years these defendants spread their highly addictive poison, profiting on the pain of others, shipping their proceeds back to Mexico to fund construction of lavish homes and other luxuries."

An estimated 300 federal, state and local law enforcement officers were involved in the investigation that culminated in sweeping arrests over the last two days. Authorities served 20 search warrants and seized 89 pounds of meth, 50 firearms and $255,000 in currency during the bust.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Arnold R. Moorin said the arrests "resulted in the complete dismantlement of a very large and long established drug trafficking organization."

According to records filed in the case, the Barragan Drug Trafficking Organization was principally led by three brothers: Ulises Barragan-Mendoza, of Lacey, Herminio Barragan-Mendoza, of Olympia, and a third brother who resides in Mexico.

The trio were aided by their cousins: Jose Barragan Zepeda and Fernando Barragan Zepeda, of Aberdeen; Epifanio Barragan Estrada, of Woodland; and their uncle: Abraham Barragan Zepeda.

Federal agents and prosecutors allege the organization controlled the methamphetamine distribution network along every step of the route from their hometown of Arteaga, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, to various stash houses in California and Washington.

Some of the defendants are making their initial appearances on the charges in U.S. District court in Tacoma today at 2:30. Others made their initial appearances after their arrests Wednesday.

Trial is set for June 10 in front of U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle.

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