Local News

TWO YEAR DRUG CASE CLOSED WITH ARRESTS


Jun 28, 2013

Thursday afternoon, the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force ended a more than two year investigation with the arrest of three men on numerous charges.

Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said during the course of the investigation that began in 2011 at the La Espiga De Oro store on 1st Avenue in Okanogan, the Task Force purchased over $18,000 worth of cocaine from the suspects. Rogers said during the two year period Task Force Detectives also purchased or seized over 2 ½ pounds of cocaine and 1 pound of marijuana. 

Law enforcement officers from the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Border Patrol and DEA agents served three search warrants as a result of this investigation. Rogers said all three warrants were executed at the same time, one at the La Espiga De Oro store in Okanogan, another at Trailer #13 at the M Bar J Trailer Court in Malott and at 2 S. Elm Street in Omak, the owner of the store’s residence.

Rogers said as a result of those warrants, officers seized weapons, a substantial amount of cash, approximately three quarters of a pound of heroin, over a pound of cocaine and a pound and a half of methamphetamine. He said several vehicles were also seized from the various locations.

Three men were arrested Thursday, 47-year-old Marcelino Corrales, of Omak, 32-year-old Alberto Montejano-Rangel, of  Okanogan and 26-year-old Rodrigo Taizan-Rodriguez, of Bridgeport.  Corrales is a part owner of  La Espiga De Oro and worked in the store.

All three men were booked into the Okanogan County Jail charged with crimes ranging from Identity theft, Delivery of a Controlled Substance cocaine, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, Money Laundering and the Delivery of a Controlled Substance Within 1,000 of School Property.

Rogers said earlier arrests in the case have been made, including arrests in other States.  He said “As the investigation continues to wrap up, additional arrests, searches and seizures will follow.”

Rogers said the members of the Task Force put in thousands of hours into this case over the last two years and it involved multiple agencies to get this done.

The Sheriff said, “The public doesn’t always see or know what is going on in the drug world but I can’t say enough about the Task Force members.” He said, “They do an incredible job, spend hours and weeks away from their families and should be highly commended for the job they do.”

 


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