The King County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a multi-jurisdictional arrest team – including members of the Sheriff’s Office and SeaTac Police – fanned out across the Puget Sound area on Wednesday, Oct. 23, making multiple arrests and seizing 4.5 pounds of meth, 13 pounds of heroin, $10,000 cash and six firearms.

Police say that the investigation into this criminal group began in September 2018, and utilized undercover purchases as well as various types of surveillance.

Here’s more from KCSO:

The drug trafficking organization brought large loads of heroin and methamphetamine into the Seattle area – in one instance law enforcement seized 33 pounds of meth and 14 pounds of heroin.

Over the course of the year-long investigation, law enforcement seized a total of 37.5 pounds of methamphetamine and 27 pounds of heroin.

16 people have been indicted on federal drug charges.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Tacoma Resident Office, the Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET) and the Burien Police Department (BPD) Street Team. TNET is comprised of the Tacoma, Lakewood, Auburn, Bonney Lake, and Puyallup Police Departments, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). Other assisting agencies include the Kent Police Department and the King County Sheriff’s Office SeaTac Police Department Street Team. The investigation was supported by North West High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NW HIDTA).

In addition to the agencies listed above, these law enforcement agencies assisted with the arrests and search warrants executed today: King County SWAT, Valley SWAT, Pierce County SWAT, Washington State Patrol SWAT, Lakewood Police Tactical Team, Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET), Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET), West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WestNet), Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, Hoquiam Police Department and Aberdeen Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Colasurdo and Marci Ellsworth.

Photos courtesy King County Sheriff’s Office