Several drug arrests in the area

MOSES LAKE - Federal raids spurred by grand jury indictments netted 25 arrests on July 21 for large scale methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking in Grant County.

Of the 25 arrests, many were made in the county. Warrants were served in Moses Lake, Royal City, Mattawa and Desert Aire.

Mattawa Police Chief Jim Jensen reported to his city council that "significant arrests" were made in that community.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, which conducted the raids, did not break down the numbers by city. But it reported additional arrests in Othello, Pasco, Cheney and Connell.

The DEA was supported by local police agencies. The number of combined agents counted in the hundreds, according to the DEA.

According to the indictments, 24 of those arrested were charged by a federal grand jury on July 19 for various crimes involving both controlled substances. Those charges carry mandatory 10-year minimum sentences.

The U.S. government also filed a notice of criminal forfeiture allegation for two residences related to the raids.

- Staff report