Thread: Alleged meth ring busted in Thurston County; 22 arrested

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.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

http://tinyurl.com/2n3wel

Huge drug cartel smuggled meth from Mexico to South Sound

BY THE NUMBERS

14 months of investigation
41 arrests
89 pounds of methamphetamine seized
50 guns confiscated
$255,000 in cash seized
17 court-approved wiretaps obtained
300 agents and officers involved in arrests this week
25 federal and state warrants executed
30 federal, state and local law enforcement and criminal justice agencies involved.

STACEY MULICK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

comments (10)

UPDATED AT 9:42 A.M.

TACOMA — For years, law enforcement officers in the Tacoma area have run up against members of a tight-knit Mexico-based crime family. This week, about 300 federal agents and law enforcement officers arrested 22 members of the so-called Barragan Drug Trafficking Organization and executed search warrants in four counties.

In addition, 19 other people associated with the organization face state drug- and weapons-related charges in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Thurston and Pacific counties.

Authorities say the Barragan organization smuggled about 200 pounds of crystal methamphetamine into the United States each month from the family’s hometown in Artega, Mexico.

“We are confident we have dismantled this organization in Washington and the Western United States,â€

Latinos fear latest bust reflects poorly on their community

Sunday, April 6, 2008 1:43 AM PDT
By Thacher Schmid

Latino leaders in the Lower Columbia River area said last week's high-profile bust of the Barragan family drug organization could exacerbate prejudices against Hispanics within the larger white community.

Rather than predicting violence or overt racism, they said the bust is just the latest in a string of sad news for the law-abiding majority.

"I think it's really hurting the Spanish community, big time," said interpreter and church pastor Loren Hanna. "It's just one more thing against them when we're trying to show that they're hardworking."

"Of course it will make it harder" on Hispanics who follow the law, businesswoman Maria Wylie said. "There aren't a lot (of criminals). There are few. But the ones that are, it's obvious."

Independent research on Latinos and crime by groups like the Pew Hispanic Center or Immigration Policy Center have found crime rates among Hispanics, including illegal immigrants, are about the same or even lower than the general population. Nationally, crime rates have fallen in most categories since the 1990s while the number of mostly-Hispanic illegal immigrants has more than doubled, to 12 million. Several of the Barragan crime family members who were arrested were illegal immigrants.

Ethnic Support Council board president Cindy Lopez said the rapid increase of the local Hispanic population has caused more friction here than occurs in communities with established minorities.

"I would say for some people it might be an issue, but for those who already have prejudice, this will probably just reinforce that," said Lopez. "To me it's just another drug bust."

Former police officer and civil rights activist Juan Barela and Wylie said the area already had strong prejudice against those with brown skin before the latest arrests, and that illegal activity has to do with morals, not ethnicity.

Barela said he knows of many Latinos who have been unfairly profiled by local law enforcement, and the Barragan bust won't help matters.

"I tell my people all the time, listen guys, you tell your children that any time they want to join a gang or get involved in drugs, it reflects on everybody."

Longview Police Chief Alex Perez declined comment.

Hanna said the Barragan organization is an example of using the traditionally strong family structure of Latino culture for the wrong ends.

"Family units in the Hispanic community are very tight, so when they go into a business, say the drug business, the tightness of the family is good for their business," he said.

He lamented the predatory actions of the narcotraficantes, who he said target poor Hispanics to send money back to Mexico.

"I know from Woodland and the Longview area they send a lot of money to Mexico, and it's drug money. And how they get it there is using different people, because there's a limit on how much you can send, like $3,000."

"It's really sad that there's that much (drug) trade that goes on in our area, that much money."

Barela said the media plays a role in stigmatizing Hispanics.

"It's how it's printed (by media)," Barela said. "The media doesn't point out that 'Hey, this thing is going all the way around, it's not just the Hispanics.' "

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