Federal authorities have dismantled a Sinaloa Cartel-connected trafficking ring that smuggled massive shipments of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin into western Washington, often using semi-trucks hauling loads from Mexico up through California. The takedown comes as Washington’s commercial driver licensing (CDL) system faces a firestorm of criticism following a deadly Florida highway crash tied to the state’s licensing failures.
NEW: Feds say Sinaloa Cartel smuggled fentanyl & meth into WA using semi-trucks. Bust comes as WA’s CDL system faces scandal, fraud, bribes & licenses for unqualified drivers, after a deadly FL crash. US DOT Sec Duffy vows crackdown & funding cuts for states ignoring CDL rules. pic.twitter.com/B2kcZJxgoU
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) August 27, 2025
Semi-Truck Pipeline From Mexico
Investigators said the cartel’s pipeline moved narcotics up the West Coast and into communities stretching from Whidbey Island and Arlington down to Tacoma and Lacey.
“This Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated drug trafficking group brought misery and death to our community,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “The work of DEA and our partners seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl from this group that could have yielded a staggering 6.9 million lethal doses. This fentanyl could have killed everyone living in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area.”
Authorities allege the ring was directed by brothers Rosario Abel “Joaquin” Camargo Banuelos, 31, and Francisco “Fernando” Camargo Banuelos, 24, based in Sinaloa, Mexico. One of their key transporters, truck driver Isabel Villarreal Zapien, 44, allegedly hauled cartel drugs north in semi-trailers. He now faces federal charges.
CDL Failures Under Fire After Deadly Crash
The revelations land just as Washington’s CDL oversight faces national scrutiny. In July, Harjinder Singh, a truck driver in the U.S. illegally, made an illegal U-turn in Florida that caused a fiery crash, killing three people. Despite repeatedly failing English proficiency tests, Washington improperly issued him a full-term CDL in 2023. Singh has since been charged with vehicular manslaughter.
The incident reignited concern over Washington’s licensing practices, already under investigation due to an alleged bribery scheme involving Skyline CDL School. According to a May report by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Skyline allegedly funneled bundles of cash — $520 to $530 clipped to student birthdates, via UPS to state tester Jason Hodson in Arlington. Investigators say Hodson falsified test results, passing students who never showed up for exams.
From April 2023 to September 2024, Hodson recorded 877 driver tests, 822 from Skyline. When retested, 80% failed. Regulators have since revoked 110 CDLs, including 102 tied to Skyline, and canceled the school’s Washington license in March 2024.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned Washington, California, and New Mexico for failing to enforce federal CDL rules, calling the lapses “despicable.” He warned that states ignoring federal English-proficiency requirements could lose millions in federal transportation funding. “If they had followed the rules, this driver would NEVER have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us,” Duffy said.
Nineteen states, including Washington, issue licenses regardless of immigration status. An investigation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found significant failures by California, Washington, and New Mexico to place drivers out of service for ELP violations. The US DOT found that Washington has been undermining federal safety standards, resulting in gaps in enforcement. DOT said, “Washington has adopted the ELP regulation but is failing to enforce it. From June 25, 2025 through August 21, 2025, of the more than 6,000 inspections resulting in at least one reported violation, only four inspections involved an ELP violation resulting in a driver being placed out of service.”
California Highway Patrol has said it won’t follow this federal regulation.
Sweeping Indictment in Washington
Meanwhile, the Sinaloa case continues to unfold. Nineteen defendants have been charged, including couriers, redistributors, and stash house operators. Several face additional firearms violations.
During August 4 raids, agents seized:
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9 kilograms of methamphetamine
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More than 5 kilograms of fentanyl
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Nearly 4 kilograms of cocaine
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Over 1 kilogram of heroin
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7 pistols and 3 rifles
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$342,000 in suspected drug proceeds
Earlier seizures tied to the same investigation included 465 pounds of meth, 269 pounds of fentanyl, 23 pounds of cocaine, 6.4 pounds of heroin, and over $309,000 in assets.
“This indictment names not only the redistributors in the Western District of Washington, but also the brothers in Mexico who profited by spreading their poisons and addiction in the Pacific Northwest,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller.
Federal Crackdown Ahead
The case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative to dismantle cartels and transnational criminal networks. Thirteen of the defendants are in custody while six remain at large. Many face mandatory minimum sentences of at least 10 years.
