Fentanyl Four Busted with 16 Kilos, 60K Pills

SEATTLE – A massive fentanyl operation has been dismantled in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in the arrest of four men and the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill over 1.6 million people. The bust, a coordinated effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and local law enforcement, landed 16 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 60,000 fentanyl pills off the streets of Washington state.

The investigation, which began in late March, utilized undercover agents posing as high-value drug buyers. The operation culminated May 9, 2024, with the arrests and subsequent searches. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the charges today in U.S. District Court in Seattle. “This quick work by federal and local law enforcement will save lives with 16 kilos of fentanyl powder and tens of thousands of pills taken off the street,” Gorman stated. “With deadly fentanyl overdoses occurring at a rate of two a day in King County alone, we are focused at getting as much fentanyl as we can off the streets and out of circulation.”

The initial deal involved Elvin Irias-Escoto, 22, of Honduras, residing in Renton, WA, agreeing to supply the fentanyl. DEA Tacoma agents surveilled Irias-Escoto and his associates as they loaded a vehicle with drugs at a Renton apartment complex. The quartet drove to a shopping center parking lot in the Bellingham area, intending to complete the transaction. There, they displayed two boxes containing over 15 kilograms of fentanyl powder to law enforcement. Selvin Ponce-Maradiaga, 26, also of Honduras and living in Renton, Sammy Maradiaga-Escoto, 20, of Honduras, from Federal Way, and Hector Rosales-Martinez, 24, of Honduras, with an unknown Washington residence, were all taken into custody alongside Irias-Escoto.

But the bust didn’t stop at the parking lot. A search of the Renton apartment revealed a stash of an additional 60,000 fentanyl pills, another kilogram of fentanyl powder, and multiple boxes of ammunition. Agents also recovered a firearm from the vehicle used in the attempted drug sale. David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, emphasized the lethality of the seized drugs: “Fentanyl traffickers threaten the lives of our community for profit, and this amount of fentanyl represented over 1.6 million potentially lethal doses.”

“Today’s successful operation…underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between HSI and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of HSI Pacific Northwest. Tobin Meyer, Commander of the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU), added, “This operation epitomizes the effectiveness of pooling resources and expertise across agencies.” SCIDEU, along with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Customs and Border Protection, all played crucial roles in the investigation.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are allegations at this stage. Each of the four defendants – Elvin Irias-Escoto, Selvin Ponce-Maradiaga, Sammy Maradiaga-Escoto, and Hector Rosales-Martinez – is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story.