Federal investigators have arrested five additional suspects in connection with what authorities describe as the largest federal drug bust ever carried out in Washington’s Tri-Cities region. The arrests follow an earlier operation that resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars in cash, large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and multiple firearms.
Initially, Amador Sanchez was taken into custody and booked into the Benton County jail. Court filings now confirm that Sergio Sanchez, Eliodoro Tapia, Nika Eloisa Salazar, Cassaundra Rachel Pollard, and Alma Rosa Sanchez have also been arrested as part of the same federal investigation.
All six individuals face charges related to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Some defendants are additionally accused of distributing controlled substances or possessing them with intent to distribute.
Coordinated Searches Across the Tri-Cities
On March 3, federal agents executed multiple search warrants at residences throughout the Tri-Cities area — including Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. The coordinated operation resulted in the seizure of approximately:
- $2 million in cash
- Over 164 pounds of powdered fentanyl
- Around 200 pounds of methamphetamine
- 16 firearms
Preliminary estimates indicate that the scale of the seizure could have had devastating consequences if the drugs had reached communities across the region.
Photos released by law enforcement show tables stacked with packaged narcotics and large amounts of cash bundled in plastic bags and cases, underscoring the magnitude of the alleged trafficking operation.
Four of the defendants have entered not guilty pleas in federal court. Salazar and Tapia had not yet formally entered pleas at the time of the latest court filings.
Repeat Offenders and Firearm Violations
Authorities allege that three of the suspects were previously convicted felons who were prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of their arrests.
Amador Sanchez is accused of operating from multiple residences across the Tri-Cities to conceal drug trafficking activities. Investigators searched a home on Sheridan Place in south Richland where Sanchez was arrested. Court records indicate he had reported living at a different address in Pasco while under probation supervision.
Sanchez was on federal supervised release stemming from a prior drug trafficking conviction. In 2013, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation as part of a methamphetamine distribution case involving multiple defendants. Court documents allege that he previously sold methamphetamine originating in the Tri-Cities that was distributed in Spokane.
According to the federal indictment filed March 18, Sanchez allegedly possessed 15 pistols and one rifle despite being legally barred from owning firearms. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of nearly $2.3 million from Amador and Alma Sanchez.
Additional Felons on Probation at Time of Arrest
Eliodoro Tapia and Nika Eloisa Salazar, both previously convicted on drug-related charges, were reportedly on probation when arrested in Washington.
Tapia had been sentenced in October 2021 to three years and five months in prison for importing methamphetamine into Southern California and was serving a term of probation at the time of his arrest. Salazar was sentenced in Utah in 2021 to five years and four months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was likewise under probation supervision.
Court documents allege that Tapia and Salazar possessed a .38-caliber pistol, another violation for individuals prohibited from carrying firearms. Prosecutors are pursuing forfeiture of approximately $211,000 connected to their alleged activities.
Part of Broader Anti-Fentanyl Initiative
Federal officials emphasized that the quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine seized in the case posed a serious public safety threat. The operation is being highlighted as a significant step in an ongoing nationwide effort aimed at disrupting fentanyl distribution networks and reducing the flow of synthetic opioids into communities.
The investigation involved a multi-agency task force including federal narcotics agents and regional law enforcement partners. Officials say the collaboration was essential in dismantling what they describe as a large-scale drug trafficking network operating across Eastern Washington.
As the case moves forward in federal court, authorities say additional proceedings and potential forfeiture actions are expected. If convicted, the defendants could face lengthy federal prison sentences under mandatory sentencing guidelines tied to the volume of narcotics allegedly involved.
The arrests mark one of the most significant federal drug enforcement actions in the region’s history, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking throughout the Pacific Northwest.
