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.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle fans pack waterfront hours early as USA defeats Australia, advances in World Cup
SEATTLE — Soccer fans descended on Seattle’s waterfront well before kickoff Friday, staking out their spots early to watch a highly anticipated World Cup matchup at Seattle Stadium between the United States and Australia. That patience paid off as Team USA won the match and now advances to the knockout round.
The atmosphere at Pier 62 was electric from the start, with fans lining up for prime viewing positions, whether down on the water’s edge or taking in the sweeping scene from the waterfront overlook above.
“I mean, look at all these people that are here hours beforehand to celebrate this incredible game,” said Paul Hanson, who was rooting for Team USA. “The hairs are going up on the arm.”
The energy was a draw in itself.
“The energy is amazing, everyone’s in a great mood, it’s just a lot of fun to be down here,” Maggie McNeil said.
Not everyone in the crowd was wearing red, white, and blue.
Lizzie Manning hails from Melbourne, Australia, and is now living in the Pacific Northwest.
Manning told KOMO News she hasn’t been back home in nearly a decade, but taking in the U.S.A-Australia match with the waterfront crowd gave her a taste of it.
“Whenever I see another Australian I’m like, ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, oy oy oy,’” she said. “I feel so close to home. I need a meat pie, life’s good.”
“I’ve met so many people who are visiting from other countries,” Seattle resident Maddie Chaplain said. “I sat next to a couple yesterday who was eating dumplings for the first time from Argentina, that was so awesome.”
With Team USA advancing, fans like Aaron Olson say they’ll be back for more.
“USA’s gonna win it,” Olson said. “I will come down here every game. This is spectacular.”
The World Cup watch parties continue on Pier 62 throughout the tournament. They are free and open to the public with online registration, but capacity is limited.
Seattle News Weekly S1E44: FIFA Frenzy hits the PNW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is off and running as Seattle prepares to host the United States vs. Australia match on Friday. With more matches to be played in the Emerald City after that, FOX 13’s David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane are taking a closer look at the biggest stories surrounding the international tournament. Dan is hearing from fans on Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn on CCTV cameras during the World Cup, Austin is taking a deeper dive into why ties are a good thing in the group stage, and David revisits the lessons learned from the first match hosted in Seattle between Egypt and Belgium.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has taken Seattle by storm, bringing global excitement to our city and visitors from across the world.
On this week’s episode of the ‘Seattle News Weekly’ podcast, David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane discuss the top headlines of the week that have emerged alongside the buzz about the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A Massive Tournament Expansion
The hosts open the podcast with a discussion on how historically large this year’s FIFA World Cup is compared to years past. Expanded to 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament features a record 104 matches over 39 days across 16 host cities. Seattle is hosting six of those matches.
Austin explains the value of “ties” in the group stage—especially with the new format where 32 teams advance to the knockout stage instead of 16—meaning a single point from a tie carries significant weight.
At the time of recording, the US had already defeated Paraguay and is preparing to face Australia at “Seattle Stadium,” where a win would guarantee advancement.
Transit Tactics
Dan Griffin reports on the city’s transit system, noting that while the light rail is moving a massive influx of people smoothly, transit authorities are actively “throttling” passengers.
This practice involves controlling crowd flow onto platforms to ensure safety, which has caused wait times of over an hour for some fans on TikTok. Transit officials recommend that fans walk to stations slightly further away from the stadium district to get moving faster.
The CCTV Security Debate
The hosts talk about how security is a major focal point. The FBI has already had to confiscate drones being flown illegally downtown. More prominently, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson activated controversial closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Stadium District following “general but credible threats” identified by law enforcement.
While an activist group called Community, Not Cameras expressed fears that the surveillance puts vulnerable populations at risk due to federal agency presence, visitors and fans interviewed largely welcomed the extra layer of security. The cameras are expected to be turned off after the World Cup concludes.
Cultural Celebrations and Fan Experiences
The hosts play a clip from reporter Lauren Donovan who provides a colorful look at the fan festivities happening in the city. She highlights the “March to the Match,” describing Monday morning where Belgian fans swarmed Victory Hall alongside middle school band directors from the Stanwood-Camano district who were recruited to drum for them.
She also joins celebrating Egyptian fans, whose match against Belgium ended in an enthusiastic tie. The hosts note that international fans (like those from Australia) are already flooding local attractions, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, turning the sporting event into a broader West Coast vacation.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible or YouTube.
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