-from heraldnet.com-

By Diana Hefley

BOTHELL - A drug investigation that early this week turned up dozens of pounds of cocaine and heroin in Snohomish County has produced another big surprise: $900,000 cash hidden in secret compartments in the suspects’ vehicles, according to documents filed today in U.S. District Court.

That brings to $1.2 million the money seized from six men arrested in connection with an investigation into an alleged smuggling ring that specialized in cocaine and heroin. Narcotics detectives on Tuesday discovered the $900,000 while searching the suspects’ cars. They’d already seized about $320,000 and 33 pounds in cocaine and 23 pounds in heroin.

Five men, including two Bothell residents, have been indicted on federal drug charges. A Marysville man has been charged by complaint.

The arrests came after a nine-month investigation, dubbed “Los Intocables” or “The Untouchables.” The investigation was shared by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force.

Narcotics detectives began investigating the ring last summer after a confidential source told police a man nicknamed “Cookie” was supplying a dealer in Everett with large quantities of heroin.

Investigators followed the men, wiretapped the leader’s cell phone, and videotaped their comings and goings. Along the way, they allegedly recorded multiple drug deals in Everett, Marysville, Arlington and Snohomish, according to records filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

The indicted include Javier Sanchez-Vasquez, 27, and Jose Vasquez-Contreras, 20, both of Bothell; Gabriel Ramirez Castro, 30, of Des Moines; Macrino Acevedo-Cuevas, 26, of Shoreline; and Rodolfo Navarro-Gomez, 27, of Sumner. Dion Brady Lykins, of Bothell, was charged by complaint.