United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Seattle – The key source of drugs for a drug distribution ring operating in Skagit and Whatcom counties was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to eight years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Enoc Martinez Lopez, aka “Victor,” 28, of Marysville, Washington, was the main supplier of drugs to other co-conspirators and drug redistributors. He distributed fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine in areas that have seen an increase in overdose deaths. At Martine Lopez’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “You chose to enrich yourself by perpetuating the cycle for others whose lives and families have been impacted by the drug epidemic." 

“We know that fentanyl trafficking has led to increased fatal overdoses in the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Feeding addiction in our communities leads to increased deaths. Fentanyl pills have even resulted in the deaths of children who mistake a colorful pill for a piece of candy.”

Records in the case detail how various defendants interacted with supplier Martinez Lopez and other drug customers. In April 2022, investigators initially saw Martinez Lopez meeting a drug customer and co-defendant at the Silver Reef Casino in Whatcom County. That person was later arrested with more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and a firearm. Communication between Martinez Lopez and other coconspirators show he was supplying members of the ring with as many as 2,000 fentanyl pills at a time.

On November 30, 2022, when Martinez Lopez was arrested and his residence was searched, law enforcement seized, $177,710 in cash, 8.7 kilos of fentanyl pills, 2.3 kilos of fentanyl powder, more than 5 kilos of cocaine, a kilo of heroin, and more than 6 kilos of methamphetamine.

In asking for a ten-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs wrote to the court, “When arrested, Martinez Lopez was in possession of significant quantities of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The ability for Martinez Lopez to access the quantity of drugs found in his possession is particularly concerning and likely demonstrates the ability to connect with cartel-level narcotics sources-of-supply. This quantity of drugs represents a significant amount of misery and suffering.”

In all in this case, law enforcement has seized: 11.5 kilos of fentanyl pills, 2.8 kilos of fentanyl powder, 5.7 kilos of cocaine, 1.6 kilos of heroin, and 8.7 kilos of crystal meth, more than $186,000 in cash and nine firearms.

“This defendant profited from the misery of some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This investigation reflects the seriousness with which DEA and our partners take fentanyl trafficking in Whatcom and Skagit counties.”

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bellingham Resident Office (DEA), working with the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, the CBP Air & Marine Operations, the Lummi Police Department, the Everson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.