Police raids lead to 29 arrests, seize scores of drugs and guns
PENDLETON, Ore. -- Over a hundred officers seized copious amounts of drugs and firearms and arrested 29 people early Thursday morning as a part of a multi-agency raid on a drug trafficking organization, Pendleton police said.
Officers with federal, state and local law enforcement made the move after a year-long investigation, according to Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts.
The team had 27 search warrants for residences, vehicles and a storage locker at locations throughout Oregon and southeast Washington. Roberts said their goal was to disable the Drug Trafficking Organization, and arrest several suspects with outstanding warrants related to the investigation.
The multi-agency investigation is ongoing and the names of those arrested will be released Monday to prevent any impact to the ongoing operation, police said.
The trafficking organization was operating in Umatilla, Morrow and Union counties, as well as southeast Washington and southern Oregon.
As of 1 p.m. Thursday, police seized the following related to this investigation:
- 6.5 lbs of methamphetamine
- 1/2 ounce heroin
- Nearly 800 prescription medication pills
- 23 pounds of processed marijuana
- Approximately 200 marijuana plants
- Four indoor marijuana grow sites
- Eleven handguns and one silencer
- Ten long barrel firearms, including 1 assault rifle and 1 shotgun
Law enforcement and other agencies involved in the investigation and today's operation include:
- Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team
- Pendleton Police Department
- Umatilla Police Department
- Hermiston Police Department
- Umatilla County Sheriff's Office
- Morrow County Sheriff's Office
- Union County Sheriff's Office
- Milton-Freewater Police Department
- Umatilla Tribal Police Department
- Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section, Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol Services Division, Fish & Wildlife Division, SWAT, and Evidence Technician
- Tri-Cities Metro
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Team
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- US Marshals
- Immigration & Customs Enforcement
- Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE)
- Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET)
- Union/Wallowa Drug Task Force
- Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team
- Umatilla County District Attorney's Office
- US Attorney's Office, Oregon and Eastern District of Washington
- Oregon Department of Justice
- Department of Human Services
Photographs are courtesy of the Oregon State Police.
