Seattle, WA
DEA in Seattle warns of cocaine mixed with fentanyl after overdose deaths
DEA in Seattle warns of cocaine mixed with fentanyl amid overdoses
Even after the last federal defendant arrested during “Operation New Day” was sentenced to five years in prison, the DEA in Seattle is still observing a rise in the trafficking of fentanyl powder.
SEATTLE – The last federal defendant arrested during Operation New Day, which targeted the open-air drug market at 12th and Jackson and 3rd and Pine in 2023, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that 56-year-old Cuong Quoc Cao was found guilty of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Agents photographed Cao making hand-to-hand drug sales of fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and heroin while armed with a pistol. His arrest is part of a larger effort that has so far resulted in the federal convictions of six defendants.
“Operation New Day was a proactive measure to dismantle drug trafficking networks that have plagued our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge David Reames. “By targeting individuals who are at the forefront of these illegal activities, we hope to create a safer environment for residents.”
This crackdown is a precursor to the recently announced Operation Red Rose, which was detailed during a press conference in June. The DEA, in collaboration with Seattle Police, traced a street-level purchase of methamphetamine back to the Sinaloa cartel and further to drug suppliers in Colombia.
DEA and SPD executed search warrants in Western Washington simultaneously with the operation in Colombia. A video released by the General of the Colombian National Police showcased the operation’s success in taking down producers, distributors, retailers, and money launderers.
“Here in Western Washington especially, we’re focused on the Sinoloa cartel’s connection to the fentanyl and methamphetamine traffickers,” said Reames. “Not a week goes by when we don’t seize multiple pounds of highly pure methamphetamine.”
In terms of impact, the King County overdose deaths data dashboard indicates a slight decline in fatalities this year, with 650 people having died from drug overdoses compared to 801 during the same timeframe last year.
Some would credit the increased availability of Narcan to treat overdoses as one reason for fewer deaths.
Reames also said that by ripping out the drug pipeline by the root, it creates an ebb in the flow of drugs to Western Washington.
“Hopefully, it makes it harder for a period of time so they can reevaluate their circumstances and maybe get help, maybe stop needing drugs in the future,” he said.
One recent concern is the increase in overdose deaths related to cocaine mixed with fentanyl. “If you put fentanyl, which is highly addictive, into cocaine, you are going to get a user addicted to that source,” he explained. “It could be as simple as that.”
The DEA in Seattle is also observing a rise in the trafficking of fentanyl powder, which poses greater risks as it can be easily mixed with other drugs, making them more lethal.
“I’ve been doing this 26 years and this is the most frightening thing I’ve seen,” he said. “With powder fentanyl we are seeing purities rising into the 80 and 90 percent in which 2 milligrams is a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.”
Reames recently presented “What Every City Leader Needs to Know About Fentanyl”, a version of the One Pill Can Kill Presentation, to mayors and city leaders from throughout Washington state at the Association of Washington Cities Conference in Vancouver, Washington.
He says the DEA in Seattle has launched a new outreach program called Operation Engage, which aims to educate communities about the dangers of drug use.
DEA Agents and outreach specialists will be visiting schools, tribal communities, and local events. A notable event will feature the DEA’s Hummer, seized from a drug dealer and wrapped with a “One Pill Can Kill” message, at Liberty Park in Renton on August 18.
As the community continues to battle the effects of the opioid crisis, officials emphasize the importance of education and prevention in reducing drug-related harm.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX SEATTLE
Man charged in I-5 police standoff, accused of throwing fish tank
Street racing driver triggers fiery, deadly Pierce County crash
Man accused of killing girlfriend in North Seattle charged with murder
North Cascades Highway closure extended, conditions worse than expected
2025 Social Security COLA increase: What we know
Seattle police lieutenant hit with retaliation after enforcing accountability
Court Docs: Suspect told Seattle police he had ‘memory’ of killing girlfriend
San Juan County Sheriff outraged over ferry captain comment
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX 13 Seattle newsletter.
Seattle, WA
Seattle Weather: Cooler Sunday to close out weekend
Seattle – Our pleasant weekend continues as afternoon highs remain a few degrees cooler than normal. Onshore flow will keep many along the coastal regions in the low 60s, while the interior lowlands warm into the 70s to close out our weekend.
Onshore flow will continue to keep afternoon highs cooler than normal.
Stronger onshore flow, along with a weak disturbance to our north will increase clouds on Sunday morning with a few spots potentially seeing a stray light shower. Clouds will quickly begin to clear by the afternoon with sunnier skies by midday.
Sunday will begin cloudy with sunnier skies by the afternoon.
A stretch of warmer weather is heading our way beginning Tuesday when we warm into the 80s, and it sticks around into the upcoming weekend.
A stretch of 80 degree days are ahead!
Seattle, WA
Tech Investor Vinod Khosla to Acquire the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 Billion
Tech billionaire Vinod Khosla and his family have reached an agreement to buy the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion, according to people familiar with the details, as reported by Variety‘s sibling sports news outlet Sportico.
The deal marks one of the largest valuations ever for a sports team in a control transaction, nearing the $10 billion price tag in Mark Walter’s purchase of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. The India-born Khosla, who is a prominent VC, is worth about $13.7 billion, according to Forbes. He is buying the defending Super Bowl champions from the estate of late owner Paul Allen.
Khosla’s group beat out a handful of other bidders, including a group led by billionaire Aditya Mittal, a member of one of India’s richest families, said the people, who were granted anonymity because the details are private. Sportico was first to report on Khosla’s interest back in May.
Khosla’s wife Neeru Khosla will serve as the team’s control owner, according to a memo that the NFL sent Saturday to its clubs. Neeru Khosla is the co-founder and chair of the CK12 Foundation, an education non-profit. Their son Neal Khosla, the CEO of Curai, will also have a leadership role in the team, according to the memo, a copy of which was viewed by Sportico.
It’s not immediately clear how the deal is being financed. Khosla didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Allen estate said Saturday in a statement that the team had been sold to the Khosla family and included a quotation from Khosla himself. The statement did not provide any details about the deal structure or financing, but said the Khoslas would be the team’s new control owner.
The Seahawks are worth $6.59 billion, according to last year’s Sportico numbers, but the team was always expected to sell for quite a bit more than that. It’s relatively rare for NFL teams to sell—this is just the third to formally hit the market in the past decade—and the league’s structure virtually guarantees that each team turns a nine-figure profit annually.
The co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Khosla was one of a handful of local investors that bought into the San Francisco 49ers last year at a valuation higher than $8.5 billion. Sportico reported at the time that Khosla bought the biggest stake, though the specifics were not available.
It’s become common for new NFL owners to be existing LPs in other franchises, a process that gives them familiarity with the league—and vice versa. Billionaire David Tepper, who bought the Carolina Panthers in 2018, was a minority owner in the Pittsburgh Steelers. So was Josh Harris, who bought the Washington Commanders in 2023. Harris’ Commanders group included longtime business partner David Blitzer, who was also a Steelers LP. Khosla will need to sell his 49ers equity if the Seahawks deal closes.
Khosla came to the U.S. in his early 20s. He earned an MBA from Stanford, and co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982, serving as the tech company’s first CEO. His VC career started at Kleiner Perkins, and he launched Khosla Ventures in 2004. His firm’s notable exits include Affirm, Opendoor and DoorDash, which all went public.
New NFL owners are heavily restricted in how their financing can come together. There is a $1.5 billion debt limit, and the control owner must hold a minimum of 30% of the equity. Institutional funds can own 10%, and the total group cannot exceed 24 minority owners.
The Seahawks are being sold by Allen’s estate, which assumed ownership after his 2018 death. Allen’s will called for his sports assets, which included the Seahawks and the NBA‘s Portland Trail Blazers, to be sold to benefit charitable causes. His sister Jody Allen, the executor of his will and trust, has run the teams in his absence. The Trail Blazers were recently sold for $4.1 billion to a group led by Tom Dundon.
To date, the most expensive NFL team ever purchased in a control sale is the Commanders ($6.05 billion), while the Los Angeles Lakers are the most expensive sports team acquired in a control sale ($10 billion). A minority stake in the parent company of the Miami Dolphins recently sold to a Chinese billionaire at a $12.5 billion valuation.
Mittal previously contributed about $1 billion to the 2025 takeover of the Boston Celtics, his first major move into U.S. sports. His Seahawks bid group included former Celtics control owner Wyc Grousbeck, Sportico previously reported.
Latham & Watkins was legal advisor to the Allen estate in the transaction.
(Pictured: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp on Feb. 8 at the 2026 Super Bowl held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.)
Seattle, WA
Cyclists fill backroads for annual summer Seattle-to-Portland ride
A massive wave of cyclists ranging from kids as young as 9 to grandparents in their 80’s just launched a 207-mile journey from Seattle to Portland. They are keeping completely off the highway, sticking to backroads and local bike trails. Meanwhile, local commuters are feeling the squeeze as northbound Interstate 5 gridlock forces heavy weekend traffic onto those exact same surface streets.
-
Detroit, MI18 seconds agoThree dead in Metro Detroit mall shootings in eight days: What we know
-
San Francisco, CA8 minutes ago
I’m a writer who left LA for an AI startup in San Francisco. It was like stepping into a whole new world.
-
Dallas, TX15 minutes agoDallas weather: Widespread thunderstorms bring flash flood risks and brief heat relief
-
Miami, FL18 minutes agoWhy I’m Not Worried About Giannis in Miami
-
Boston, MA23 minutes agoGallery: Tall ships display their splendor at Sail Boston
-
Seattle, WA28 minutes agoSeattle Weather: Cooler Sunday to close out weekend
-
Denver, CO30 minutes agoColorado Court of Appeals reverses sanction against Denver DA for pattern of discovery violations
-
San Diego, CA38 minutes agoRecord campaign cash was spent in San Diego’s City Council primaries. Did it pay off?