Drug busts span Moses Lake to Tri-Cities
MOSES LAKE — A large-scale drug bust was taking place in Moses Lake and the surrounding county area Thursday.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office released details as the drug busts were taking place. Some details are not yet available due to the extent of the investigation and because property and drugs were still in the process of being seized.
An Interagency Narcotic Enforcement Agency (INET) investigation spanning between Moses Lake and Tri-Cities began in December 2008.
The investigation came to fruition Wednesday and Thursday.
On Wednesday several agencies executed search warrants in Kennewick and Pasco. The agencies included were Grant County INET, Kennewick Metro, Pasco Police Department, Kennewick Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said Grant County Undersheriff John Turley.
Moses Lake, Kennewick and Pasco became linked together in the drug bust due to a suspected drug dealer allegedly selling large amounts of drug paraphernalia at various locations in each city.
After authorities served search warrants, they seized 10 vehicles including an Hummer H2, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Yukon and Lincoln Town Car, he said. Several large flat screen TVs, cash and drugs were taken as evidence.
Turley said often times during a drug seizure, expensive items are taken if it is believed they were purchased using money from drug sales.
On Thursday, authorities spent the day serving search warrants in Moses Lake and the surrounding area, he said.
At least three to four arrests were made at the time the Columbia Basin Herald spoke with authorities. Turley said it was possible more people would be arrested in connection to the bust later the same day.
During the Thursday drug bust, several agencies assisted including the sheriff’s office, Moses Lake Police Department, Ephrata Police Department, INET, Quincy Police Department, DEA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, sheriff’s office K-9 Unit and the Washington State Patrol K-9 Unit.
The identities of those arrested in connection to the drug busts, charges and drug details were not available in time for publication. The primary drugs confiscated included a marijuana grow in Kennewick, methamphetamine and cocaine.