Spokane man gets 20 years in prison for 2 million fentanyl-laced pill press operation
SPOKANE — A federal judge sentenced a 37-year-old Spokane man to 20 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for operating a commercial pill press that produced fentanyl-laced drugs from his home basement. U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed the sentence on Nicholas Adams on Friday for his role in the […]
Trump signs new proclamation vowing lethal force against cartels in hemispheric pact
DORAL, Fla. — President Donald J Trump on Saturday unveiled a new multinational military coalition aimed at dismantling drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere, signing a proclamation at the inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit that commits the U.S. and 17 partner nations to using lethal force against these criminal networks. The Shield of the […]
DEA operation results in largest drug seizure in Eastern Washington history
SPOKANE — The Drug Enforcement Administration on March 3 executed federal search warrants at multiple locations in the Tri-Cities, Washington area that resulted in the largest seizure of controlled substances in Eastern Washington history. The federal search warrants were based on an ongoing drug trafficking investigation into Amador Sanchez and several co-conspirators. The investigation revealed Sanchez […]
Snohomish County Council unanimously approves providers for New Start Centers
SNOHOMISH COUNTY— The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved a series of motions on January 28, related to service agreements with the Salvation Army and YWCA for its two New Start Centers—a pair of repurposed hotels which the county intend to use for emergency bridge housing for people experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County. The idea of the New Start […]
Four arrested in ICE and Border Patrol drug bust in Marysville, cache of weapons seized
MARYSVILLE—Border Patrol agents, with assistance with Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), took down a massive drug and firearms trafficking ring in Marysville, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced to X on Wednesday. The investigation, which began in the summer of 2025, was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs […]
From Sinaloa Cartel Arrests to Cybertruck Vandalism: Top Snohomish County Crime Stories of 2025
In 2025, Snohomish County faced a mix of serious incidents and proactive law enforcement efforts. Below are the highlights from our 2025 crime and public safety coverage. Marysville Police Department welcomes new K-9 Officers On December 8, 2025, the Marysville Police Department held a swearing-in ceremony for two new K-9 officers: Kona (15-month-old Belgian Malinois […]
Trump’s new corollary parallels Monroe Doctrine, targeting migration, drugs, and foreign rivals
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald J Trump has formally revived the 182-year-old Monroe Doctrine, introducing a “Trump Corollary” in his administration’s new National Security Strategy to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere amid rising concerns over Chinese influence, migration, and drug trafficking. The 33-page National Security Strategy document, released in November 2025, declares that “after years […]
19 arrested in Sinaloa Cartel-linked drug trafficking operation spanning Mexico to WA state
SEATTLE—In a sweeping crackdown, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have arrested 19 individuals tied to a Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated drug trafficking network distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin across western Washington, Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced on August 25, 2025. The operation, which transported narcotics from Mexico through California to Washington using […]
Cantwell and Spokane Police Chief testify on Washington drug trafficking
WASHINGTON—The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing titled Interdicting Illicit Drug Trafficking: A view from the Front Lines on Wednesday, February 26, where ranking member Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), joined by Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall, testified on the impacts of fentanyl in Washington State and the need to improve drug […]
Tulalip Tribes supports new legislation allowing prosecution of drug-related crimes
TULALIP—The Tulalip Tribes’ headquarters resounded with thanks on Tuesday, August 6, directed toward Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) for introducing in the US House of Representatives the PROTECT Act—Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today—which, if passed, will give Tribal courts and law enforcement the ability to prosecute drug-related crimes for the first […]
