Four Honduran men living in Washington state tried to sell enough fentanyl on Thursday to an undercover agent posing as wealthy drug customers to kill 1.6 million people, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Elvin Elias Escort, 22, and three alleged co-conspirators supplied several kilograms of fentanyl powder and pills to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in a drug deal in late March. He was arrested while attempting to do so, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced to Western. The District of Columbia stated: statement. Officers from the State Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office in Tacoma worked with HSI officers to monitor the suspects as they prepared to transport drugs from Renton to HSI officers in Bellingham.
Investigators also arrested alleged co-conspirators Selvin Ponce-Maradiaga, 26, Sammy Maradiaga-Escort, 20, and Hector Rosales-Martinez, 24, the statement said. Investigators seized “15 boxes containing over 15 kilograms of fentanyl powder” and a firearm from the suspects, as well as “60,000 fentanyl pills and 1 kilogram of fentanyl” from Elias Escort’s Renton apartment. Powder and several boxes of ammunition were seized. Ponce-Maradiaga made the announcement in a statement.
“[T]His amount of fentanyl was equivalent to more than 1.6 million potentially lethal doses,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division.
All four suspects were arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle, the statement said. (Related: Jury finds Honduran Prime Minister Juan Orlando Hernández guilty of aiding and abetting the importation of more than 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.)
Prosecutors described the operation as a rapid investigation involving HSI, the DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“The swift efforts of federal and local law enforcement will save lives with 16 kilograms of fentanyl powder and tens of thousands of pills taken off the streets,” U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman said in a statement. . “With fatal fentanyl overdoses occurring at a rate of two per day in King County alone, we are focused on: [sic] It’s about getting as much fentanyl off the streets and out of circulation as possible. ”
Commander Tobin Meyer of the Skagit County Interzonal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU) praised the dedication and cooperation of those involved in the investigation, saying, “Through our united efforts, we send a clear message to drug traffickers: We will not tolerate We will track you without fail and interfere with your activities.” and protect our communities from the devastating effects of illegal drugs. ”
In April 2024, a federal jury in Manhattan convicted former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández of conspiring to import large amounts of cocaine and committing weapons crimes. according to to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Juan Orlando Hernández abused his position as President of Honduras to run the country as a narco-state where violent drug traffickers were allowed to operate with virtual impunity, and the people of Honduras and the United States He was forced to suffer the consequences,” the lawyer said. General Merrick B. Garland said in part:
According to reports, Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2024.
