By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Federal agents confiscated more than 16 pounds of crystal methamphetamine yesterday when they arrested two people near Napavine.
Law enforcement has been investigating the two Vancouver, Wash. men since before May, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Agents followed their vehicle and made a traffic stop at Interstate 5’s exit 72 interchange, according to a news release from DEA Special Agent Jodie Underwood.
“Inside the van a concealed compartment was located that contained over 16 pounds of crystal methamphetamine,” Underwood wrote.
Ricardo Estrada, 43, arranged a meeting yesterday to deliver seven pounds of methamphetamine in Vancouver, according to the news release. Subsequently, surveillance observed Estrada and Francisco Cervantes, 47, depart a residence in a van that Estrada stated contained additional methamphetamine destined for another drug customer, Underwood wrote in the news release.
Underwood did not say where they were headed.
The pair appeared today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
Estrada was charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying/possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Cervantes was charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Alleged in the complaint filed in U.S. District Court is the following:
In May 2011, Estrada provided a sample of methamphetamine to law enforcement. Between June and July, Estrada sold nearly one pound of crystal methamphetamine and a .45 caliber handgun to law enforcement.
The investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force.
Law enforcement executed multiple related search warrants yesterday in Vancouver.
Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force Commander Mike Cooke said in the news release:
“These arrests are a significant blow to a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Clark County. This has been a long investigation and we’re happy to see it come to a successful conclusion.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine up to $10 million dollars.
Also assisting in the investigation was the Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team with members from several agencies including the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Tacoma, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, and Auburn.
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Read more in The (Vancouver) Columbian, Friday Aug. 5, 2011, here [1]