Drug, weapons investigation underway in Moses Lake Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — An elevated law enforcement presence in Moses Lake Wednesday is the result of a multi-agency investigation into narcotics and illegal firearms trafficking, according to a media release from the Moses Lake Police Department,  

Local and federal agencies are involved in the investigation, which began at about 6 a.m. Wednesday, said Captain Mike Williams, MLPD public relations officer, in the press release.  

Along with MLPD, agencies involved included the US Marshal’s Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Local law enforcement agencies included the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Quincy Police Department and Royal City Police Department.  

“Neither ICE nor any other immigration enforcement agency is involved in today’s operation, despite what has been posted on social media,” Williams said. 

Washington law prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting with non-criminal immigration enforcement, he said.  

“ICE is not obliged to notify us when they are working in town, and they usually do not,” he said. “In fact, we often are not aware of ICE activities until we receive media inquiries as we did yesterday.” 

More information on the drug and illegal weapons investigations will be released when it becomes available, he said.