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Agents found a pound of high-grade crystal meth wrapped in plastic when they served a search warrant April 2 at Epifanio Barragan's house in Woodland. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News

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Wiretaps were key to bringing down meth cartel

Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:11 AM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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The Barragan methamphetamine trafficking organization has been a thorn in law enforcement’s side since the 1980s, but it took federally authorized wiretaps and the cooperation of 30 criminal justice agencies to finally infiltrate it, authorities said.

“This was beyond the scope of local law enforcement resources,” said Undersheriff Rick Scott of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office and commander of the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force. “I’ve been with the sheriff’s office 30 years and I have dealt with them many times but never before had the opportunity to infiltrate them.”

The investigation led to the arrests of 41 people — including five in Woodland and three in Long Beach — and seizures of 89 pounds of meth, 50 firearms and $255,000 in cash.

Authorities said many of the arrestees’ names were familiar to them. Scott said years ago, he made an undercover drug buy from the grandfather of the two Olympia-area men believed to be the ringleaders of the cartel.

But in the past, anytime members of the family were arrested — or suspected an arrest was imminent — they’d return to Mexico for long stretches of time. In the interim, other family members stepped in.

U.S. Attorney Jeffery Sullivan said the multi-agency effort to dismantle the organization began in 2004. Using court-ordered wiretaps, investigators developed evidence that led to a federal grand jury indictment.

Zero Hour came at 6 a.m. April 2, when 20 SWAT teams served 20 simultaneous search warrants around the state. More than 300 law officers arrested 41 people: 22 on federal indictments and 19 on state charges.

“We caught them unawares,” said Arnold Moorin, special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

At least 11 children ranging from 3 months to age 15 were in the residences when the warrants were served, including five in two Woodland homes, according to reports.

In Woodland, Lower Columbia SWAT entered 733 Second Ave. while Southwest Washington SWAT of Clark County entered 620 Bozarth St.

In Long Beach, agents raided apartments at 1307 and 1310 S. Washington Ave. and 1200 Pacific Ave.

Epifanio Barragan Estrada, aka “Pariente,” 37, of Woodland has been identified as one of the key members of the organization.

According to records filed in the case, the organization is led by three brothers, Ulises Barragan Mendoza of Lacey, Herminio Barragan Mendoza of Olympia and another brother in Mexico. They are allegedly assisted by their cousins, Epifanio Barragan Estrada of Woodland, Jose Barragan Zepeda and Fernando Barragan Zepeda, both of Aberdeen, and their uncle, Abraham Barragan Zepeda, who was arrested in Redding, Calif.

The organization controlled the distribution of meth along the Interstate 5 corridor, bringing 200 pounds a month up from superlabs in Mexico, court documents said. About half the meth stayed in Washington, and the rest was shipped to the Midwest and East Coast, authorities said.

At Epifanio Barragan’s house at 620 Bozarth, agents said they found a pound of high-grade crystal meth wrapped in plastic on the floor of the master bedroom he shared with Lucero Marlen Paniagua Lopez, 34.

As a narcotics agent began unwrapping the plastic, he came to a sticky substance and a strong smell of laundry soap, according to a probable cause statement. He said narcotics are often packaged in this manner. Plastic wrap and laundry soap are among many ways smugglers try to conceal the scent of drugs from dogs.

In the bedroom and kitchen, agents said they found MSM, a dietary supplement for livestock often used to cut meth.

Along with the other federal defendants, Epifanio Barragan has been charged in U.S. District Court in Tacoma with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to engage in money laundering, with a sentence of 10 years or more in prison.

He has been ordered detained in federal custody for the duration of his case “based on immigration status,” according to court documents that don’t elaborate.

Paniagua has been charged in Cowlitz County Superior Court with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Agents said Jesus Larios Ruiz, who also uses the name Jesus Gonzalez Tapia, 37, was at Epifanio Barragan’s house when the warrant was served and was also arrested on the federal indictment.

A few blocks away at 733 Second St., Maria Jesus Barragan Estrada, 35, admitted to agents she came to America illegally about 12 years ago, according to a probable cause statement.

Agents found a permanent resident card in her name and two Social Security cards. A federal agent checked and found no record of a resident card issued in her name, the statement said.

She has been charged in Cowlitz County Superior Court with forgery.

The federal indictment also names Francisco Manuel Ruiz Chavez of Woodland, but he was not in either home when the warrants were served, according to the probable cause statements.

In Long Beach, agents arrested Francisco Cortez Villa and Miguel Barian Farias on the federal indictment. Barian also is being charged federally with being an alien in possession of a firearm (a Marlin .22 caliber rifle and a Stevens Savage .22 caliber rifle in the apartment upon his arrest). The third man, Abraham A. Armas, is being charged federally on immigration violations.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, Jody Underwood, spokeswoman for the DEA, said this week.

By-Stander wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:04 AM:

" And we thought they were just hard working people looking for a better life? Whats new,I guess will have to start picking our own fruit.Oh that way my tax dollars can support them in the Federal prison system. Do we want to still keep talking about imagration? "

Resident wrote on Apr 10, 2008 5:42 AM:

" GREAT GOING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
MY HAT IF OFF TO YOU. GET THEM ALL OUT
OF OUR COUNTRY. "

Yippiy ki ay wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:26 AM:

" How,Just how do you bleeding harts explane this one!I have no simpathy for these illegal imagrants.thay say that the reason there coming to the U.S is for a better life!Sounds to me that there coming up here is to ruin other peoples lives! "

Yeah wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:34 AM:

" They do the work that Americans wont do:) "

Love these articles because wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:50 AM:

" Especially since it gives people the chance to spout off their closeted (or not so closeted) bigoted remarks about any brown skinned person. I swear Longview/Kelso is more redneck than parts of the South... "

Earl wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:56 AM:

" Thank God for the Patriot Act. Without it this bust wouldnt have been possible. So when is the ACLU going to step in to provide legal assistance to them? "

Citizen wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:58 AM:

" There are good people and bad people of every race and creed. Making racist remarks about someone because they are caught in a criminal sting is inappropriate .

Believe it or not hating people because they are migrant workers is a racist stand. It is not only Anti American, it is hateful and brings no solutions to anything, ever.

The lack of jobs and low income problem belongs at the steps of this White House and it's supplicant republican congress prior to 1996. That is where you can aim your frustration.

Let's not tear each other apart when we get excited about a job well done.

I hope the wiretaps used in this bust pass the FISA LAW that has been on the books for years and years because if it doesn't, these guys will have appeals that will drag through our courts for years.

Oh yes, before I go. Nobody forces anyone to take drugs. If you were a meth customer? You are 75% of this problem. "

CHICANOS FINEST wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:09 AM:

" THATS JUST A VERRY VERRY SMALL DENT ITS GOING TO MAKE IN THE DRUG CARTEL. THAT JUST GIVES OTHER SMALL TIME DRUG DEALERS EASY WAY TO MAKE MONEY AND COME UP. THATS NOT GOING TO STOP, THE PEOPLE NEED TO CHANGE. I USE TO BE IN THAT LINE OF WORK AND DID MY TIME AND DUES FOR IT MORE THEN A DECADE BEHIND BARS. LETS JUST SAY I LEARNED MY LESSON. "

FRUSTRATED wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:12 AM:

" So yet another example of what not controlling our borders does to this country.

It would be nice to see what happens to ALL those involved, frequently the lower level gang members get kicked out of the US, only to reappear a short time later. "

Incredible wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:16 AM:

" Incredible that it took over 25 years to wiretap this group when US Citizens can be wiretapped without authorization by the Bush administration! "

So... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:27 AM:

" I understand people wanting to move to America to start a better life, but it's obvious these people didn't. They wanted to sell their product and hurt our people. I know it's their decision to do it or not. If you want to move to America and have a better life, do it legally and then you will get the benefits and not have to "hide" and forge your identity. It might take a while but it sounds worth it to me!!!!! "

Secure our borders!!!! wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:31 AM:

" For 25 years they repeatedly crossed the border from super labs. If we controlled our border like EVERY other country in the world they would not have been able to keep the flow moving. What about the social security cards and the ID theft victims, have they been contacted? Call the politicians and tell them to enforce the laws! Immigrate legally or DON'T COME!!!! "

Julie T. wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:42 AM:

" I agree with Citizen- no one forces anyone to do drugs. So lets attribute some blame to the "customers" buying the meth. After all, if there wasn't any demand, they wouldn't have their "business", especially for 25 years! Bet you anything more than half of those "customers" were caucasians, not illegals and I hope they arrest and throw the book at the users too. As for migrant workers, they are hard-working, live in often sub-standard housing, and work long hours for extremely low-pay. Contrast their living situations with those of the Barragans. I say we should make honest work pay! "

Don't fool yourself... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:15 AM:

" These illegal alien gangs "create" their customers by giving it away to kids, and then selling it to them once they become addicted - just like any drug pusher would.

The sooner America rids itself of illegal aliens, the sooner we stop the drug problems, and all the associated societal problems associated with it. "

Wire tapping is no protection... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:19 AM:

" I personally don't like having big brother tapping in to MY life. These people wouldn't be here, and we wouldn't need wiretapping in the first place, if the laws were followed to keep lawbreakers out of our country. "

Jim wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Good going law enforcement. It is abouot time they nailed a few of them at the coast. Now maybe they should check some of the fishing boats at Ilwaco to. "

thank you wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:29 AM:

" than you for doing your job and getting some of the bad people off the streets.. "

gatoraid wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:06 AM:

" I RESENT those that enter our country illegaly.I RESENT those that peddle dangerous and illegal drugs. I RESENT those that call people with these same ideologies, "racist".A racist is: "One who believes that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others." "

stink wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:13 AM:

" The Patriot Act had nothing to do with these wiretaps. The good guys went to a court with evidence, the court approved the wiretaps, and the bad guys are caught. That is how our system should work.. not a president wiretapping any "enemy combatant", without a court warrant, they see as a possible threat. "

WOW wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:26 AM:

" Do you think if all other races and creeds were excluded from America that the drugs and violence would just stop. No, I think not. Readers that are making these comments have to much time on there hands. Lets look at the big picture and see what the percentages are and see which race actually commits more crime? Constantly referring to Hispanics or any other race as these people shows how close minded this world still is. If everyone spent as much time worrying about their own family, children, and friends this world would definitely be a better place. "

HP44 wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:36 AM:

" Of course they do the work that americans "wont" do because the farmers can hire illegals for less then minimum wage under the table. "

me wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:38 AM:

" Blaming the crime on drug users is just stupid. Yes, of course these are the hard working, immigrants that we should all love and welcome, they just don't have time or money to actually come here legally, and oh yes they need to be able to run back home when law enforcement is looking for them. Nice. "

Obey the law! wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:43 AM:

" To all the racist posters that insist on lumping hispanics into one pile. Listen!! WE WANT ILLEGAL ALIENS DEPORTED! That's it. Anyone is welcome if they do it legally. Not all hispanics are here illegally so stop trying to make this about color, it is not. It is about OBEYING THE LAW!!! "

Reality wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:50 AM:

" Ok, so tell me this....who do you think was selling most of these drugs????Guarenteed they were CAUCASIAN dealers. Come on people get a grip, open your eyes to real life. There are drug dealers of every race, not just Hispanics! And for the record, members of MY FAMILY are Hispanic and they do not deal drugs nor do they even do the drugs. They are law abiding citizens who have stable jobs and provide for their family! "

Out Of Towner wrote on Apr 10, 2008 11:17 AM:

" TO: Yippiy ki ay ..... You are so right about the folks who come here from South of the border coming here to ruin other peoples lives. "

wow wrote on Apr 10, 2008 11:20 AM:

" That is awesome news but how long are our judges going to make them stay behind bars? Will it be like the sex offenders? Hmmm? Again, hats off to you officers. Great job !!! "

Tazer Baby wrote on Apr 10, 2008 12:10 PM:

" It's a good thing most of you, who have commented on this story, live in a small town because the "Big Bad City" would eat you alive. "

To: Yippiy ki ay wrote on Apr 10, 2008 12:13 PM:

" My God........learn to spell ! It's down right disheartening to see a Red Blooded American butcher his own Language. "

What Up wrote on Apr 10, 2008 12:50 PM:

" Ive gotta say that I dont believe all of the people from south of the border are bad people, its just that Ive never heard of the Smith Cartel. "

Someone Explain... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 1:16 PM:

" Why is it that when the term illegal aliens comes up, everyone assumes they are from Mexico? Why doesn't anyone ever think that there may be some Canadians here illegally as well. Could it be that this is because the majority of Canadians happen to look more like the majority of U.S. citizens? Just something to ponder. I mean, if someone named Pedro from Tiajuana sells pot in the U.S., everyone calls for his deportation. If Bob from Vancouver BC is caught doing the same, the response is "Geez, it's just pot." There is an element of racism to many of the posts above. "

Gipsy Joker wrote on Apr 10, 2008 1:16 PM:

" Why aren't there more people commenting on the article in today's paper about the "white" members of a motorcycle gang in the Tri-cities. They were busted with meth, guns and stolen property. I guess if your not brown its not worth fussing about. "

To Someone Explain... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 1:40 PM:

" I am against ALL illegal aliens. I don't care if they are purple with polka dots but tell me this. Name me the last time there was a Canadian Cartel? Anyone no matter what color they are should be deported if they are in this country illegally. "

to Yippiy ki ay wrote on Apr 10, 2008 1:51 PM:

" please consider investing in a dictionary or spell check. In your few but rather provincial words I counted 5 spelling errors. Can you spot them? "

A Word to the Wise... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:22 PM:

" If you are an illegal alien (regardless of your skin color) - GO HOME TO YOUR NATIVE COUNTRY NOW!

If you are not an illegal alien, then shut up about it and quit defending them - they are a burden to ALL legal Americans. "

Hey spelling police.. wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:31 PM:

" Give it a rest already. Add to the conversation or move along. "

BLOW wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:34 PM:

" This would be a good opportunity for any of us to watch the movie "Blow". Addiction or crime has no color, but we all bleed red when the chips are down. This movie is a true story that is reality and shows what a drug cartel is capable of and how it effects our country and the people who care and don't care "

Kelso Guy wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:39 PM:

" I guess we'll need to start picking our own fruit? Like meth dealers pick fruit... This has nothing to do with Hispanics in general. Drug dealers (from all races) are going to keep selling drugs because drugs sell. Illegals will continue to enter the US because we demand cheap produce, labor, etc. Even though we have a huge trade deficit, people still flock to Walmart to buy foreign goods. If they wanted to tighten the border they would. Fact is, when it comes to paying for something, Americans have become cheap and illegals do it for less money: Drywall, fruit picking, etc. If you're not on the positive side of the deal of course you're not gonna like it, but you aren't making the laws, the benefactors are. "

the blame game wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:41 PM:

" We all point fingers at the bad drug dealers, but fact remains we are buying from them. Old, young , they could care less, money talks.
Part of the problem is our attitude towards drugs. And as long as we buy there will be a market. The dealer knows this all to well.
So blame all you want , but look in your own back yard first. Who do you know that does drugs ? What have you done to help? "

CR 01 wrote on Apr 10, 2008 3:04 PM:

" I agree with blow, that is one of the best and saddest movies ive seen in awhile. Its amazing how greedy some people can be but then again they get caught in the end. "

LIBERTY'S RIGHT wrote on Apr 10, 2008 3:33 PM:

" the inmates in Our Prisons will do the work,IF THEY DON'T;Don't Feed Them! We have plenty of other work after that,too.and finally the American economy will rebound. "

me wrote on Apr 10, 2008 3:46 PM:

" The only people here mentioning the color of skin are the people screaming "racism". Most of the posters are talking about ILLEGAL ALIENS, wherever they might be from. There's not a lot of comment about the biker story, because there is no mention of illegal aliens. It is a HUGE issue costing our country billions of dollars, so if you are concerned at all about taxes, cost of goods and healthcare, you should be very concerned about illegal aliens. "

What's New? wrote on Apr 10, 2008 4:19 PM:

" Wow they busted 40 more people saling drugs!!! But that don't mean anything I am sure all the people that kept them in business have already found a new hook-up. If the law inforcement agents really want to do something they should come up with better treatment centers to make people want to stop using. Because as long is there's people to buy the drugs there will alway be someone to sale them. You would think after so many years they would try something new. That's just my thoughts on this whole thing. "

Tazer Baby wrote on Apr 10, 2008 4:46 PM:

" The presence of a bunch of treatment centers is not going to make someone want to get off or stop doing drugs. Unfortunately, the old adage of, 'if the person dosen't want to stop, they aren't going to stop' is true. The problem, and the solution, lie with education, communiation and support for the individual who is stuck in the vicious circle that seemingly has no end or begining. The amount of drug dealers in an area are directly related to the amount of buyers and users. Demand drives supply and always will until that cycle is somehow broken. "

check you family tree wrote on Apr 10, 2008 5:42 PM:

" To all of you yelling about them being here illegal. Check you family tree. "

RE: Don't fool yourself... wrote on Apr 10, 2008 6:09 PM:

" You must watch the propaganda commercials on TV or something. Drug dealers don't give away drugs for free to get kids hooked. Don't forget he/she has a dealer he/she has to pay too. The real question here is how did the government go about legally being able to wiretap in the first place. That takes evidence I thought. Now I would think if they had evidence to get a wiretap they would of had enough evidence to obtain a search warrant a lot earlier. Oh wait there's is such a thing as the Patriot Act that is designed to strip you of your cival liberties in the name of terrorism. "

To check you family tree wrote on Apr 10, 2008 6:16 PM:

" My relatives came here legally. "

Gonna Be A Dry Spell wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:11 PM:

" I don't care what anybody says, this bust took a bite out of crime and it will curtail a serious amount of drug activity in this area. This group of people importing meth to Washington and nearby areas had years of smuggling experience behind their organization. They say the product was high quality, meaning it probsbly was cut over and over and found it's way into the hands of hundreds of local nickel and dime dealers that we have on every corner around here. New suppliers will show up but not with the impact that was just stopped with this long time established group. Good job to all of those that participated in this clean- up, it was long overdue, but their efforts paid off. "

Get Real wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:16 PM:

" The real point here for everyone is that what they were doing was illegal. It does not matter where they came from at all. What does matter is that we all confront this issue as a community. When we see questionable thing let the police know and deal with it. If you are illegal or not and I see you doing something wrong you will be reported..period. "

To :Hey spelling police.. wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:55 PM:

" Hey you; are you the comments Police ? You can move along as well buddy. "

re: Get Real wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:02 PM:

" It does matter if they were illegal or not. If we stop the flood from the border maybe we can get the family values back and we can get our country back on it's feet. There is no way we can support all of this for much longer. I agree that what they did was illegal, but if they could not come and go so easily they would not have been here at all. No Jobs, No cover for the drug ring. The locals drove nice cars on minimum wage that should have been a clue! "

To Someone Explain wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:18 PM:

" No Canadian Cartel? You didn't hear of BC Bud a short time back? "

Thought of the Day wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:34 PM:

" Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant"
is the same as calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist." Let us dream of the day when our great country is FREE of all - ! Your support is needed. Together we can run them out of here... out of our streets, our homes, our businesses. Run them back, with tails between legs, to where they belong. Let them work for what they want, instead of receiving it from you for free. Let them return, should they like, with documentation in hand, to live as an American...not just another criminal alien here to feed for free off your system, crowd your roads (with no license or insurance) and take advantage of your healthcare and education systems. Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera.
"

Bob wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:31 PM:

" Thought of the day. Yes send them all back to Oklahoma or Texas. "

???what??? wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:36 PM:

" yeah, sounds like most of you live in Longview and probably nowhere else in your whole miserable little lives. I am white. My neighbors are WHITE and I have three meth houses located right across the street for at least a year now. They are very obvious about their business and the cops here don't seem to care or want to do anything about it. Citizens say "guess you had to grow up here" or "meth is everywhere". Good points, but i did grow up here. I have lived all over for the past 20 years and never seen a worse meth problem than here. And never heard more excuses about why. At least, everywhere else, the politicians cared, the police cared and the people who lived their cared. Here, it's hopeless. Needless to say, I'm moving out in the next month and this time not looking back or thinking of this dieing little town as "home". You can have it! I don't feel like waiting around for years for them to do anything about it here! "

re:to wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:36 PM:

" thought of the day.RIGHT ON!!!!!. RUN FOR OFFICE I WOULD VOTE FOR YOU. "

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