MOSES LAKE, WA – A five-month investigation by the Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), ended with the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of approximately 25 pounds of narcotics.
According to MLPD, the operation concluded Wednesday night with the arrests of Teodolo Gonzalez-Barreto, 26, Luis F. Estrada-Mendez, 25, and Jose J. Chavez Soriano, 28. All three men, identified as Grant County residents, were booked into the Grant County Jail on charges of possession with intent to deliver.
Detectives with the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) and deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction Team assisted with the arrests. Officers seized around 23 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of fentanyl, and an ounce of cocaine that were reportedly intended for distribution in the Moses Lake area.
The case has been referred to federal prosecutors for review and possible federal charges.
MLPD officials said the operation underscores the importance of cooperation between local and federal agencies in addressing drug trafficking and organized crime within the community.
