Two Whatcom County men were indicted in Western District of Washington court Friday for drug-trafficking offenses related to the sale and distribution of around 91,000 fentanyl pills following a prior drug bust in Bellingham.
Juan E. Hernandez-Hernandez and Alejandro Macias-Velazquez were arrested after an investigation into their suspected importation of quantities of fentanyl pills into Whatcom County, according to a press release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents working with WCSO received information that Hernandez-Hernandez had arranged for the delivery of approximately 91,000 fentanyl pills in Bellingham in July, records indicate.
HSI special agents later observed Macias-Velazquez arrive at a parking lot in Bellingham to deliver a duffle bag, which was later determined to contain approximately 10 kilograms of fentanyl concealed within cardboard boxes and potato chip containers. Both suspects were arrested.
“The dangers of fentanyl cannot be understated, more so in an area where there have been recent overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl-laced pills,” said Robert Hammer, the special agent in charge who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest.
Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said the bust was crucial for curbing the street sales of fentanyl, which are resulting in deaths around the county.
“The street price of the drug has plummeted, and it has become widely available in our local community,” Elfo said.
