Originally published April 12, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 12, 2007 at 6:16 PM
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Feds to X-ray seized cars after finding $880,000 in secret compartments
A mechanically adept group of drug traffickers used secret compartments built into two vehicles to hide more than $880,000, and federal...
Seattle Times staff reporter
A mechanically adept group of drug traffickers used secret compartments built into two vehicles to hide more than $880,000, and federal law-enforcement agents today plan to use a mobile X-ray machine to search six other cars for additional stashes, according to court documents.
Federal agents seized nine vehicles Monday in conjunction with the arrests of Javier Sanchez-Vazquez, 27, of Bothell, and three associates who have been charged with cocaine and heroin trafficking.
During a raid of a residence in Kirkland early Monday, agents arrested the four men and found 33 pounds of cocaine, 23 pounds of heroin and $60,000 in cash in a car parked in the garage, according to the court papers. Another $200,000 was found in a storage locker rented by Sanchez-Vazquez.
That was just the beginning.
While searching a 1995 Ford Explorer on Tuesday, agents discovered compartments built into the front seats of the vehicle. Opening the compartments required simultaneously pressing on the brakes and pushing a button underneath the floorboard matting on the driver's side of the car.
The compartments contained $608,900 in cash.
Agents found another $272,840 in a compartment built into the right-rear passenger door in a 2002 Honda Accord. A third compartment was found behind the rear seat on the left side of a 2001 Audi, but it was empty.
Agents plan to search the six other cars seized Monday. To assist the search, they will use a Vacis X-ray machine that is normally used to examine cargo containers at the Port of Seattle.
David Bowermaster: 206-464-2724 or dbowermaster@seattletimes.com
E-mail article
Print view
Share
NEW - 06:37 AM
Cat wanders into police parking lot, is euthanized
Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies
School levies passing in most area districts
King County library measure ahead by slight margin
Medical pot exceeds law, but no charges
![]()

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwautos
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Five reasons to stick with a job you hate -- for now
Post a comment
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
- Idol Confessions | "American Idol" hopeful from Seattle didn't make it to Hollywood afterall
- Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies
- Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Nicole Brodeur | Chrisceda Clemmons' house wasn't the only casualty
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
279 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
263 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
250 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
233 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
213 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
194 - Bus-tunnel attack while guards watched prompts review of Metro security
174 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
129 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
102
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies
- How clean are those pre-washed salad greens?
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Answers to biggest Olympic TV questions
- Brier Dudley's Blog | Google rolls its own Facebook & Twitter with Gmail "Buzz"





