Whatcom County law enforcement agencies are celebrating a major victory in the fight against fentanyl after announcing a major arrest in a Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office press release on Thursday, September 26.
Authorities arrested Jamie Lopez Laz Cano, 28, after serving a search warrant Wednesday in the 4900 block of Guide Meridian.
A thorough search of the premises turned up approximately 3.5 pounds (1,588 grams) of suspected fentanyl powder, believed to be for resale, according to the Sheriff’s Department. A Whatcom County Sheriff Office K9 team recently certified in Fentanyl detection helped locate the medications. The investigators also seized a large amount of payment receipts.
The search warrant was part of a local investigation into a Mexico-based Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) operating in Whatcom County, and Wednesday’s arrest is related to five others announced in Augustthe release said. Authorities suspect the organization is using local storage locations and couriers to distribute fentanyl throughout the area.
Lopez Laz Cano was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on charges of delivery of a controlled substance – fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver – fentanyl, and money laundering, all felonies.
The investigation is being conducted by the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force and the Bellingham Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Homeland Security Investigations and the Bellingham Police Department also assisted.
“Our joint efforts with local, state and federal agencies successfully disrupted a major fentanyl trafficking operation,” Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley said in the news release. “This achievement underscores our continued ongoing commitment to addressing the opioid crisis and ensuring the safety of our communities.”