⏱ 2 min read
James Barber, a 44-year-old Anchorage man, was part of a large-scale fentanyl trafficking operation that brought the deadly drug from Phoenix and Seattle to Alaska. Between November 2024 and March 2025, Barber regularly picked up luggage containing one to two kilograms of fentanyl at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The operation was led by 59-year-old Aaron Washington, who had already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
Barber’s role in the conspiracy involved collecting the fentanyl shipments and distributing them in Alaska. On one occasion, Washington flew to Phoenix to purchase fentanyl from a co-conspirator and returned to Anchorage with the drugs. Surveillance video showed Washington bypassing the luggage carousel and heading for the taxi line, while Barber picked up a checked suitcase and left separately.
Law enforcement recorded at least seven other trips with similar circumstances, and seized two kilograms of fentanyl pursuant to a search warrant at the airport. Texts between Washington and Barber indicated that Barber was planning to pick up the luggage at the airport but failed to do so. At the time of these offenses, Barber was released on pretrial supervision in a prior federal criminal case.
A federal jury found Barber guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and an enhancement for committing the crimes while on federal supervised release. The verdict marks a significant blow to the fentanyl trafficking operation in Alaska.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Alaska
- Location: AK
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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