Spokane, Washington –Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that as part of ongoing joint efforts by the Spokane DEA Task Force, the Spokane Police Department Special Investigations Unit, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 50,000 fake pills believed to contain fentanyl, and seven guns were seized in an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. One person was arrested and booked for obstruction of justice.
The U.S. Attorney noted the seizures and commended the joint nature of the ongoing investigation. “Yesterday’s seizures took a large amount of potentially lethal narcotics off the street, along with a number of guns that appear to have been connected to the drug trade,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “One fentanyl-laced pill can kill, so this seizure likely saved dozens, if not hundreds, of lives in the Spokane area. When it comes to investigating cases like this, it is truly a force multiplier to have DEA, FBI, Spokane PD, and our task forces working together seamlessly to seize these poison pills, protect the community, and keep Eastern Washington safe and strong. I commend and thank everyone involved in yesterday’s operation.”