Whatcom County authorities arrest 2 men tied to transnational drug trafficking
Two men have been arrested following a months long investigation into a transnational criminal organization by the Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
Hilario Adame-Monreal and Arthur Villalon were both arrested Wednesday on charges related to trafficking fentanyl in Whatcom County. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater said Adame-Monreal was believed to be distributing the drugs and laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.
Between August and October, an undercover officer purchased fentanyl three times from Adame-Monreal, according to Slater. Adame-Monreal was also contacted by WCSO deputies on Oct. 6 while trespassing in a barn and found to have over $13,000 in his possession.
Adame-Monreal admitted to smoking methamphetamine and claimed some of the money was meant for delivery to an unknown person.
Slater said investigators served a search warrant at a property on the 1800 block of E. Pole Rd. in Everson believed to be used by the transnational criminal organization to store and distribute drugs, house drug couriers and register vehicles for drug delivery, according to Slater.
This was the same property that Jesus Penuelas-Agramon, who was charged with attempted first-degree murder in July for shooting a Lummi Nation Police officer, lived at. Penuelas-Agramon was also under investigation for trafficking fentanyl.
Villalon owns the property, Slater said, and investigators believe he knowingly provided material to support the drug trafficking organization. He was arrested for criminal conspiracy in support of leading organized crime and unlawful use of a building for drug purposes.
Officers found around 30 grams of fentanyl when they searched the property, as well as multiple empty baggies, a scale and suspected drug ledger notes.
Adame-Monreal was arrested shortly before the property was searched. He had around $4,000 on his person, Slater said, and remittance receipts with destinations in Mexico were found in his car.
Adame-Monreal was arrested on three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, money laundering and possession of fentanyl with the intent to deliver. He and Villalon are being held in Whatcom County Jail without bail.
“The fight against fentanyl requires a unified effort to save lives in our community,” said Whatcom Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley. “This is an urgent public safety crisis that needs an all-hands-on-deck approach. Thank you to all of the agencies involved in this investigation and search warrant.”