11/06/2002

By LINDA BYRON / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Federal authorities say they've busted a ring of alleged drug dealers responsible for trafficking huge shipments of cocaine and heroin, much of it destined for the streets of Western Washington.

Prosecutors allege the 11 people arrested in the Puget Sound area, plus others across the country, are top level dealers, part of a drug trafficking organization with ties to Mexico.

"Very few if any of these people use drugs, they make a living selling to other and the quantities they are dealing in are amazing, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Doug Whalley, Asst. U.S. Attorney.

Early Wednesday, some 150 agents and police officers moved in, with search and arrest warrants, grabbing up suspects in Seattle, Renton, Des Moines, Burien, Issaquah, Federal Way, Kent and Everett.

Agents also arrested one suspect in Yakima, three in St. Louis. All allegedly work together moving drugs around the country.

"Many of them coming straight from Mexico. We intercepted shipments of heroin coming straight up from Mexico. We also intercepted cocaine going from Seattle to St. Louis," said Whalley.

If convicted the suspects are looking at 10 years to life in prison.

But defense attorneys say the case is far from over.

"It's just a charge, again my client and the other people in the courtroom re presumed innocent and we'll put the government's case to the test when the time comes," said defense attorney John Muenster.

On Wednesday afternoon, a judge ordered the suspects held without bail, pending court appearances next week.

During the year-long investigation, DEA agents reportedly intercepted drug shipments valued at $500,000 or more.