DEA raids Columbia Basin homes

MOSES LAKE - DEA agents raided homes in Moses Lake, Royal City, Desert Aire and Othello in July, searching for methamphetamine and cocaine.

"The 25 defendants arrested today will reap no reward for their illegal actions other than to face the justice they deserve," stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Matthew G. Barnes.

Twenty-four of the people arrested were indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and five kilograms or more of cocaine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute.

The alleged drug crimes occurred between January 2010 and July 2011, according to court documents. The DEA stated they served 24 warrants in Moses Lake, Royal City, Othello, Pasco, Desert Aire, Cheney, Connell and Spokane, but declined to detail how many homes were raided in Grant County cities, how many people were arrested in Grant County or how much drugs they found.

Staff of the Columbia Basin Herald found three of the homes searched in Moses Lake and a fourth was rumored to be searched in Black's Addition.