Washington State

Update: $2M, fentanyl and meth bust is largest ever Tri-Cities federal drug bust

More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

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  • DEA executed multiple warrants in Tri‑Cities, seizing drugs, guns and cash.
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office called it the largest ever federal drug seizure in Tri-Cities.
  • Indictments have been issued and evidence will be presented to a grand jury.
Kennewick, Wash.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration served search warrants at homes Tuesday across the Tri-Cities, leading to the largest ever Tri-Cities drug bust by federal agents.

The seizure took in $2 million, more than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 guns, according to preliminary estimates released Friday by the Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Photos taken at the Tri-Cities DEA office show dozens of stacks of $100 bills in plastic bags and cases, and tables piled with illicit drugs.

“The extraordinary amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine removed from the Tri-Cities area would have devastated families and communities,” said Robert Saccone, DEA Seattle Field Division special agent in charge.

More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office

The search warrants were based on an ongoing drug trafficking investigation into Amador Sanchez and others not named by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sanchez is accused of using multiple homes, including at least one in each of the Tri-Cities, to conceal his illegal drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He is on probation after a previous federal drug trafficking conviction and has been held in the Benton County jail since Tuesday for a suspected federal supervised release violation.

Sanchez was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years probation in 2013 as one of 14 defendants in a Spokane methamphetamine distribution case. According to court documents, he sold meth from the Tri-Cities to be distributed in Spokane.

He was arrested this week when law enforcement searched his home on the 1900 block of Sheridan Place in south Richland. He had reported to his probation officer that he was living on the 400 block of West Shoshone Street in Pasco.

Indictments with more details on the new Tri-Cities fentanyl and meth case have not been made public as the investigation continues. They are expected to be presented to a grand jury.

Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown.
Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office

“The enormous quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine seized in this case had the potential to cause devastating harm across our region,” said Pete Serrano, first assistant U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington. “Our office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who traffic deadly drugs—especially repeat offenders who continue to endanger public safety.”

The seizure marks significant progress in the DEA Fentanyl Free America campaign, Saccone said.

The initiative launched by the Trump administration in December aims to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain and reduce the availability of the synthetic opioids, saving lives.

The case has been investigated by the DEA Tri-Cities office, which includes state law enforcement partners as well as federal agents from the U.S. Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown.
Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown.
Drug Enforcement Administration search warrants served March 3, 2026, at multiple Tri-Cities residences in an illicit drug investigation led to the seizure of $2 million. Some of that money is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl and more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl and more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 16 firearms were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of what was seized is shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 200 pounds of methamphetamine were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of the drugs seized are shown.
More than 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 200 pounds of methamphetamine were seized at residences across the Tri-Cities on March 3, 2026. It was the largest seizure of illicit drugs in the history of the Eastern Washington District Attorney’s Office. Some of the drugs seized are shown. Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorney’s Office

This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Update: $2M, fentanyl and meth bust is largest ever Tri-Cities federal drug bust."

AC
Annette Cary
Tri-City Herald
509-416-6136
Senior staff writer Annette Cary covers Hanford, energy, the environment, science and health for the Tri-City Herald. She’s been a news reporter for more than 30 years in the Pacific Northwest. Support my work with a digital subscription
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