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Drug trafficker had 'fortified compound' at Bellingham homeless encampment, feds say
KOMO News ^ | 3/13/24 | Jeremy Harris

Posted on 03/13/2024 7:05:56 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A Mexican drug trafficker faces the potential of decades in federal prison after the Drug Enforcement Agency arrested him for peddling fentanyl from a homeless encampment in Bellingham.

Prosecutors say Rigoberto Vasquez-Martinez, 32, had a "fortified compound" inside the encampment, which included armed security around the structure where he stayed.

The city of Bellingham is in the process of trying to clear the encampment behind the Walmart on Stuart Road after years of shootings, explosions, overdoses, and drug crimes.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, Vasquez-Martinez was a significant supplier of drugs in Bellingham and operated his network from within the encampment.

Police had Vasquez-Martinez on their radar and arrested him in Oregon while he was returning from a drug run to California.

"When Vasquez-Martinez’s car was searched, law enforcement found more than seven kilos of fentanyl pills—more than 65,000 pills in all," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. "Vasquez-Martinez admits he was on his way back to Western Washington to distribute the fentanyl. They also seized $3,000 in cash and multiple cell phones."

"On that same day, law enforcement searched a storage locker in Lynnwood registered to Vasquez-Martinez’s wife," the statement continued. "In it, they found three kilos of fentanyl powder, 300 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1.9 kilograms of heroin, and a 9mm handgun and $46,000 in cash. Vasquez-Martinez admits that 9mm handgun was used in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities."

Vasquez-Martinez pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug trafficking and firearm charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in June.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said they plan to recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison, but a judge could sentence Vasquez-Martinez on some of the charges to 40 years or more.

Prosecutors said Vasquez-Martinez is a citizen of Mexico but did not clarify if he is in the United States legally.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Mexico; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: bellingham; bidenbordercrisis; crime; drugs; drugtrafficker; fentanyl; homeless; mexico; washington
Mexican, possible illegal alien, fentanyl, meth, heroin, guns, cash, homeless encampment, fortified compound, armed guards, drug runs to Cali, "shootings, explosions, overdoses"....

This story has it all!

1 posted on 03/13/2024 7:05:56 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie
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To: Uncle Miltie

Hunter Biden will probably fly out to get some pointers from this guy.


2 posted on 03/13/2024 7:12:36 PM PDT by ken in texas
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To: Uncle Miltie
Cops should have made him eat his stash.

3 posted on 03/13/2024 7:15:16 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

You forgot his “fortified compound”, 1990s era Clinton administration talk for any place his political enemies lived.


4 posted on 03/13/2024 7:25:45 PM PDT by packagingguy
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

Yes. Film reference——
Super Troopers (2002)
“Young men share a joint while driving. Mike eats a bag of marijuana to avoid detection by police. One of them offers him another bag.”

Because the other guys spent money on the dope they later ask the victim kid to pay for some of the stash he ate.


5 posted on 03/13/2024 7:42:38 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

explosions ???


6 posted on 03/13/2024 7:47:27 PM PDT by canuck_conservative (NATO - now celebrating 75 successful years of keeping the Russian monsters out!!)
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To: Uncle Miltie
When bureaucrats announce "fortified compounds", we all know it is deep and stinks. From the MOVE fire bombing, to the Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Dr. Hatfill lake draining sprees, BLM riots, J6 Counterinsurgency squads, the feds have zero credibility on their versions as they describe.

Their fairy tales. Our dollars and lives. My guess is that Cartels are in a power struggle and the feds are working on behalf of the side that bribes best.

7 posted on 03/13/2024 8:00:16 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Be careful what you say. Your refrigerator may be listening & reporting you.)
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To: canuck_conservative
explosions ???

Meth labs?

8 posted on 03/13/2024 8:04:35 PM PDT by null and void (There’s only one thing that’s for sure. Everyone on all sides a conflict will be happy to lie to you)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Soooo….how sorry are we supposed to feel for the people in these “homeless”encampments if some of the residents are able to have storage units with 30,000 in cash and don’t pay taxes because they really aren’t technically here. LOL! What a racket! Send the whole family back to Mexico and arm the border. It’s a war. His wife probably lives in a free house, they aren’t technically married so she gets a shitload in freebies from the government too. I bet her ballot is already filled out for senor Biden by the ballot harvesters.


9 posted on 03/13/2024 8:05:11 PM PDT by doc maverick
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To: Uncle Miltie

Just shoot him in the face and leave him to rot.

L


10 posted on 03/13/2024 8:13:14 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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Reminds me of Willie Collins and the Andersonville Raiders. Living in the midst of misery and getting rich off it.


11 posted on 03/13/2024 8:27:27 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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To: Uncle Miltie
... after years of shootings, explosions, overdoses, and drug crimes.

I'm glad the local authorities don't act too hastily.

12 posted on 03/13/2024 8:36:01 PM PDT by TigersEye (Our Republic is under seige by globalist Marxists. Hold fast!)
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To: Uncle Miltie
Prosecutors said Vasquez-Martinez is a citizen of Mexico but did not clarify if he is in the United States legally.

Just a wild guess here that the answer would be "No".

13 posted on 03/13/2024 9:13:51 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: ken in texas

Hunter Biden can probably give the guy pointers being a lot higher up the criminal food chain.


14 posted on 03/13/2024 9:39:47 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy - EVs a solution for which there is no problem)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Bringing it all to America, thanks joe


15 posted on 03/14/2024 3:06:45 AM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: Uncle Miltie
The city of Bellingham is in the process of trying to clear the encampment behind the Walmart

The encampment behind the Walmart is the new van down by the river.

16 posted on 03/14/2024 7:01:02 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Either ‘the Deep State destroys America, or we destroy the Deep State.’ --Donald Trump)
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To: Uncle Miltie

AND A WIFE WHO RENTS the STORAGE LOCKER !!!!!


17 posted on 03/14/2024 8:19:10 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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