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Detectives Put Brakes On Body Shop Traffickers

Police began investigating a West Seattle auto body shop after receiving dozens of complaints of blatant drug-trafficking. What they found was 15 rifles, 6 shotguns, 20 handguns, over $60,000 in cash, and almost 3 pounds of marijuana.

Narcotics detectives could tell the extent of the operation after counting 400 customers a day in and out of the auto body shop—very few with car trouble it seemed. Detectives conducted an extensive investigation including surveillance of the business and undercover buys confirming the illegal sale of marijuana inside a cargo container around the back of the property. Detectives developed probable cause for several suspects in the operation and obtained search warrants for the auto body shop, as well as the body shop owner’s residence, and the owner’s father’s residence.

At the auto body shop in the 9200 block of 16 Ave SW,  police seized 1276 grams of marijuana, 459 marijuana edibles, 18 grams of Shatter (solid hash oil), 5 handguns, and $7325.00.

Police seized 15 rifles, 6 shotguns, 5 handguns, and $1576.00 at the owner’s residence in the 8600 block of 35 Ave SW.  Two of the seized guns were reported stolen.

The owner’s father, who is allegedly the second in charge of the drug operation, lives in Burien and had 10 firearms and $54,000 in cash seized from his residence.

Four Five arrests were made on Thursday and the suspects were all interviewed and released from the scene.

handguns Money guns