News Release
June 13, 2003

For More Information Contact:
Ken Magee
Drug Enforcement Administration
ASAC/Public Information Officer
(503) 326-3371

DEA Task Force Breaks Up Oregon Cocaine Ring

Friday, June 13, 2003, John M. Bott, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Seattle Field Division, announced the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation considered one of the most significant cocaine investigations ever conducted in Oregon.

During the early morning hours of June 12, 2003, a series of federal search warrants were executed in Oregon and Washington. The Oregon warrants were executed in the Salem/Marion County and Portland Metropolitan areas.

This long-term joint investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Federal Task Force consisting of officers from the Salem Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police and the Regional Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force (ROCN). Several other federal, state and local agencies participated in this investigation and the execution of these warrants; including drug task force teams from Multnomah, Clackamas, Yamhill, Benton, Linn, Lane, and Marion Counties, Portland Police Bureau Drugs and Vice Division, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service. The Oregon HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficing Area) provided substantial assistance to all participating agencies.

During the course of this investigation, numerous seizures of narcotics have occurred to include more than 60 kilograms of cocaine, and $400,000 in U.S. currency.

Ken Magee, Assistant Special Agent In Charge of the DEA for the State of Oregon, stated that this major investigation has ties to high-level organizations in Mexico and has dealt a significant blow to the cocaine trade in the Salem/Marion County area as well as Portland.

Questions regarding this investigation may be directed to Portland DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ken Magee at 503-326-3371 or Lt. Dan Cary of the Salem Police Department at 503-588-6155, or ROCN Director, Steven Bechard at 503-234-5300.

Search Warrants were executed at the following locations:

16548 NE Halsey #119, Portland, OR
1915 NE 73rd #2, Portland, OR
371 Rosemont Ave NW, Salem, OR
688 Viking St SE, Salem, OR
3508 Silvercedar Pl. NE, Salem, OR
15027 Union School Rd, Woodburn, OR
633 Wilson St, Woodburn, OR
561 N Pacific Hwy, Woodburn, OR
2737 Hazelnut Dr, Woodburn, OR
237 S Locust St, Canby, OR
2905 E 4th Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA
8505 S 132nd St, Renton, WA
1305 S 18th Ave, Apt C, Yakima, WA
217 ½ S Beech St, Toppenish, WA
1317 S 6th St, Yakima, WA
1215 S 18th Ave Apt A, Yakima, WA
210 S Wasco Ave, Wapato, WA

Arrested and charged with a variety of federal narcotics and immigration violations were the following: