A 28-year-old Kent man was among 16 indicted after arrests over the last 10 days as part of a multistate methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring.
Jose Nolberto Bernal was one of 10 people arrested last week for allegedly distributing controlled substances, according to a Nov. 2 U.S. Department of Justice news release. Six more people were arrested Tuesday.
The drugs were coming up from California and were being distributed in King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties, according to the Department of Justice. The 18-month investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization was also distributing drugs to locations in the Southeastern United States including Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee.
“This drug organization trafficked two of the deadliest substances we are seeing in our community – fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms – ones they could transport to Mexico – contributing to terrible violence south of the border. These arrests are a significant step for community safety.”
According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in February 2020. Various people working with law enforcement provided information regarding the drug distribution activities. Aware of some of the group’s trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020.
Another 44 pounds of meth were seized in a stop on April 2, 2021, and 83 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized in a traffic stop on Sept. 28, 2021. Additionally, on Aug. 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji.
The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fiancé, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested Oct. 28. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and co-conspirator, Mario Amador-Garcia, 31, and co-conspirator, Bayron Eberto Garcia-Perez, 33, agents seized a kilogram of fentanyl or heroin, 80,000 pills of suspected fentanyl, and two firearms.
Eight additional firearms were seized at search locations in Washington and California.
Others arrested were from Brooklyn, New York; Los Angeles; Bremerton; Spanaway; Belfair; Port Orchard and Tacoma. Their ages range from 28 to 60.
One additional defendant was arrested Tuesday with 2 pounds of methamphetamine, three rifles and a shotgun. An additional four guns were recovered at other search locations. One defendant engaged in an armed stand-off with law enforcement, but he was taken into custody at his Port Orchard residence without incident.
“The objectives of this operation were to hold those accountable for the menace of illegal narcotics trafficking, and the violence associated with it, which has plagued our communities for far too long in the state of Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “The DEA and our partners are focused on the most dangerous criminals in Washington. Today’s successful operation should give members of the community a level of comfort in knowing these violent offenders, who live and walk among us, won’t be putting their lives in danger any longer.”
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