News Release
June 18, 2003
For More Information Contact:
Thomas P. O'Brien
Public Information Officer
509-353-2906

Cross Border Cocaine / Pseudoephedrine Smuggling Ring Dismantled

Today, John M. Bott, Special Agent in Charge, Seattle Field Division and James A. McDevitt, United States Attorney for the Eastern Judicial District of Washington announced the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that resulted in the arrest of nine suspects for conspiracy to import 689,000 pseudoephedrine pills into the United States and conspiracy to export over 5 kilograms of cocaine to Canada. Three other suspects were arrested for Federal immigration violations

This 13 month OCDETF investigation climaxed with the execution of 8 Federal search warrants in Schawana, WA; Mattawa, WA and Royal City, WA. The search warrants produced three semi-automatic hand guns, eleven vehicles, approximately $100,000 in U.S. currency seized in Schawana, WA and seized approximately $16,000 during the arrest of one of the suspects in Seattle, WA. The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern Judicial District of Washington will prepare the prosecution for the United States government.

This joint investigation was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration Spokane Resident Office Federal Task Force consisting of DEA Agents and Task Force Officers from Washington State Patrol, Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Spokane City Police Department, Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Also assisting in this investigation is the United States Attorney's Office, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Spokane County Sheriff's Office Jail Transport Unit and Mattawa Police Department.

Arrested and charged are the following individuals:

Adalberto Silva-Rivas, Schawana, WA
Uriel R. Silva-Rivas, Schawana, WA
Rafael Magana, Mattawa. WA
Guadalupe Chirpres-Magana, Mattawa, WA
Marco Antonio Magana, Mattawa, WA
Estolia Rivas, Schawana, WA
Hector Luis Chirpres Magana, Mattawa, WA
Adolpho Rivas-Viveros, Royal City, WA
Thanh Thi Tuyen Tran, Seattle, WA

Arrested for immigration violation are:
Uriel Chiprez Ramirez, Mattawa, WA
Benigno Hernandez, Royal city, WA
Alejandro Magana, Mattawa, WA

All mentioned suspects are to be considered innocent until judged by a court of law.