A law enforcement operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Seattle Police Department resulted in the arrest of ten individuals connected to three major drug and gun trafficking conspiracies. The arrests, which took place on October 28, 2025, followed a year-long investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies in western Washington.
The suspects have appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle. According to U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd, “These defendants were trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin on the streets of western Washington. These drugs take a heavy toll on our community,” Floyd said. “Worse yet, this group trafficked in dozens of firearms – some of them high powered assault style weapons. Yesterday alone law enforcement seized 34 firearms.”
David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, commented on the scope of the operation: “This heavily armed Transnational Criminal Organization threatened all of Western Washington by trafficking guns and fentanyl from Lewis County to Snohomish County. Our entire region is safer today because of the efforts of DEA and our partners, who literally risked their lives to confront this threat to our communities.”
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes also highlighted the risks involved: “This violent organization not only trafficked dangerous drugs but was responsible for putting firearms on our city streets,” Barnes said. “I’m thankful for the great work of our Seattle Police officers and our federal partners.”
The individuals arrested under indictments include Luis Humberto Lamas-Guzman (Lynnwood), Eduardo Villavicencio-Salido (Marysville), Silvestre Ramos Martinez (Everett), Jose Navarro Hernandez (“Robert”, Marysville), Jose Manuel Ramos Ibarra (“Kora”, Everett), Marisol Perez-Diaz (Auburn), and Jordan Martinez Gamez (Auburn). Those arrested based on criminal complaints are Jose Isabel Sandoval Zuniga (Sammamish), Roni Licona Escoto (Seattle), and Edgar Rivas Robles (Centralia).
Search warrants were executed at twelve locations across western Washington, including a property in Centralia linked to Sandoval Zuniga that contained large quantities of suspected fentanyl powder and pills as well as two dozen firearms. During his arrest, Zuniga was found with 1.6 kilos of suspected fentanyl; further searches at his Sammamish residence uncovered heroin, fentanyl, and a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
In total during this operation, authorities seized approximately 100,000 fentanyl pills, 34 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 3.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly one kilogram of heroin, 8.7 kilograms of cocaine, 34 firearms, and $40,000 in cash.
Officials noted that all charges are allegations at this stage; those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative that brings together resources from several Department of Justice programs to combat illegal immigration-related crime and dismantle transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts such as Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Alongside DEA and SPD investigators were members from Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Other agencies assisting with operations included various SWAT teams from regional police departments across western Washington as well as Customs & Border Patrol’s BORTAC unit.
Assistant United States Attorneys C. Andrew Colasurdo and Joseph Silvio are prosecuting these cases.
