A Jefferson County deputy's routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 101 led to the discovery of heroin and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $100,000.
According to Detective Brett …
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This burrito-shaped bundle, believed to be 803 grams of heroin, was found July 22, 2015 in a vehicle, driven by a Port Angeles woman, that was stopped by a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy for having expired registration tabs. The item was visible inside the vehicle and led to a search warrant and seizure of what is believed to be heroin and methamphetamine with an estimated local street value of $100,000. Photo by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
A variety of what are believed to be illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, pills, cash and other items seized July 22 by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office from a vehicle on U.S. Highway 101 that was apparently bound for Port Angeles. Photo by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
A Jefferson County deputy's routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 101 led to the discovery of heroin and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $100,000.
According to Detective Brett Anglin of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, at about 12:42 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, deputy Brian Anderson was patrolling Highway 101 near Discovery Bay when he encountered a vehicle with an expired registration tab.
Deputy Anderson contacted the driver and noted a strong odor of vinegar emanating from the vehicle, Anglin said. The driver, Colette M. Vail, 35, of Port Angeles, was subsequently arrested for driving with license suspended. While retrieving personal items for the passenger and driver, Anderson noted a large burrito-shaped object wrapped in cellophane.
Noting that vinegar is a common odor of heroin, a subsequent search warrant was obtained over the phone, Anglin said. During the search, deputies located approximately 803 grams of suspected heroin, and 98 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The combined per-gram street price of the drugs is estimated at more than $100,000, Anglin said.
Heroin has a typical street price of $150 per gram in Jefferson County while Methamphetamine has a typical street price of $80 per gram, according to the JCSO.
"To my knowledge it's likely the biggest [drug seizure] since I've been employed here the last 15 years," Anglin told the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader.
The heroin seized is known as gunpowder heroin, not black tar heroin, Anglin noted.
Vail was subsequently booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 1:30 a.m. July 22 for DWLS third degree, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, and one count of introducing contraband into a correctional facility. No bail was set.
Although the July 22 arrest is unrelated to two arrests made July 21 in Port Hadlock, also involving the seizure of heroin and meth, the bottom line is those drugs are off the streets, Anglin noted.
"Getting drugs like this off the street always makes a significant interruption in drug supply for the entire peninsula," Anglin said.
(This story to be updated when more information becomes available.)
