TACOMA, Wash. – In a significant operation targeting drug trafficking, the FBI has arrested 15 individuals connected to a violent gang based in Tacoma. This operation is linked to an extensive investigation that lasted 18 months, centered around a fentanyl trafficking network purportedly affiliated with the Knoccout Crips.
Importantly, the investigation revealed that the trafficking efforts were not solely reliant on male gang members; a number of women played crucial roles in transporting the drugs.
The Operation:
According to the FBI, the women involved would fly through Sea-Tac airport, transporting not just personal items, but also substantial quantities of fentanyl concealed within their luggage. Agents discovered that these bags contained hundreds of fentanyl pills and several pounds of powder, skillfully hidden to avoid detection.
“They were definitely aware this was an operation and were taking steps to protect it,” stated W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Seattle field office. He emphasized that the bags were packaged meticulously to circumvent security measures.
In addition to well-sealed luggage, the women utilized perfume to mask any odors that might lead to detection. “Apparently, they were doused heavily in perfume to try to mask odors,” Herrington added.
Over the course of this investigation, which targeted a courier network described as operating with efficiency, nearly 100 pounds of fentanyl were seized, with authorities tracking the movement of the drugs through Sea-Tac and Baltimore. Herrington reported that specific quantities, around 80 pounds, were distributed across these major transit points.
The recent arrests and drug confiscations involved more than just narcotics. Authorities confiscated 23 firearms, some of which were reported stolen, contributing to the investigation’s broader context of gang-related violence.
“Gang activity has no place in our community,” remarked Tacoma Police Chief Patti Jackson. The operation was initiated in response to a surge in violent crimes committed by gang members, highlighting the ongoing concerns over public safety.
Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle, noted that the investigation was a direct response to troubling patterns of violence associated with the gang.
During the culmination of the operation, taking place as part of “Summer Heat,” over 100 law enforcement officers collaborated to complete the arrests. “Some of these individuals are off the street, no longer able to engage in the assaults, the drive-by shootings, and some of the other violence they were engaged in to protect their drug trade,” said Herrington.
Sources for this information include the FBI, Acting United States Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, Tacoma Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.
