Feds seize 1.4 metric tons of liquid heroin in Oregon, arrest 4 linked to Mexico-based drug trafficking ring

Four suspected drug traffickers with links to an international crime ring in Mexico were arrested in Oregon with multiple barrels of liquid heroin inside a moving truck, authorities said Thursday.

The bust happened on Jan. 25 at a motel in Tigard after investigators learned that several individuals who allegedly worked for the drug trafficking operation were hauling a load of illegal narcotics into Oregon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon said in a news release.

Authorities tailed a rented moving truck driven by one of the suspects that was accompanied by a red pickup truck west on I-84 near Bonneville until they arrived at the motel, officials said.

After obtaining federal search warrants for the vehicles and the suspects’ motel room, investigators found eight 55-gallon barrels containing 370 gallons of liquid narcotics inside the moving truck and two loaded handguns inside the room, according to prosecutors.

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The 1.4 metric tons of narcotics were later tested and officials confirmed the contents to be liquid heroin.

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The suspects were identified as Marco Antonio Magallon, 44; Luis Deleon Woodward, 26; and Jorge Luis Amador, 25, all of Yakima, Washington, and Santos Alisael Aguilar Maya, 32, whose place of residence is unknown.

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All four men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and possess with intent to distribute heroin.