Update 1/11/2019: The Seattle Police Department, working with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) drug task force, arrested the Foundation Nightclub’s owner on conspiracy charges Friday, in connection with the 2018 undercover operation at the club.
During the course of the investigation, detectives and agents uncovered evidence that the owner himself was supplying large amounts of cocaine and other drugs to these dealers, who would in-turn provide them to club-goers and others. Since the August closure of the club, detectives and agents have conducted additional arrests of Foundation dealers, seizing additional drugs. To date, 16 individuals have been arrested for drug charges, weapons charges and conspiracy with more charges anticipated.
Detectives will be booking the owner into the King County Jail later today.
The Seattle Police Department, working with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, arrested 12 people Wednesday following an undercover narcotics investigation at the Foundation Nightclub in Belltown, where a dealer, who bragged about his close relationship with the club’s owner, coached undercover officers on how to dose women using GHB, a so-called date-rape drug.
Law enforcement officials began investigating Foundation in March 2018 after receiving reports of drug trafficking inside the club, as well as ongoing concerns city-wide about overdoses and sexual assaults associated with drugs like GHB.
In a series of undercover operations, police purchased cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and GHB inside or near the club. All of the drugs were either purchased from employees at the club, including security, or facilitated by employees or managers of Foundation, who introduced undercover officers to dealers.
Police learned Foundation had several in-house drug dealers, who were allowed to bypass club security and sell inside the venue.
Management was aware of the drug dealing, and one dealer even bragged about knowing the owner, and later explained to an undercover officer how much GHB to use to dose women, depending on their weight.
On Wednesday, SPD’s narcotics unit and HSI served warrants at several locations and seized 829 grams of cocaine, over 1,000 grams of MDMA, 400 ecstasy pills, 800 Xanax pills, 190 grams of ketamine, 13 grams of DMT, 176 grams of GHB, 1200 Molly capsules, and additional prescription drugs, as well as two handguns and more than $60,000 in cash.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has issued an emergency suspension of the club’s liquor license.
Detectives continue to investigate the case and are actively searching for additional suspects.
