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 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