Local drug agents dismantled a drug trafficking operation in northeast Bend and made several arrests. According to a news release from Central Oregon Code Enforcement: On March 12th, 2024, at approximately 8:00 PM, CODE concluded an investigation with the arrests of six people, all from Bend.
After receiving community tips and complaints about a home on the 2400 block of NE Moonlight Drive, in the City of Bend, CODE detectives identified the group as trafficking fentanyl and other controlled substances from the home. Drug agents conducted surveillance for several weeks and alleged three suspects were selling large quantities of fentanyl in the area around the Moonlight Drive area.
On March 12th, 2024, at approximately 4:30PM, CODE Detectives, with the assistance of Bend Police officers, contacted two of the suspects as they were allegedly selling fentanyl to a third party in a parking lot at the corner of NE Windy Knolls Dr and NE Twin Knolls Dr.
About an hour later, CODE Detectives conducted a separate traffic stop and took two other suspects into custody as they left the NE Moonlight Dr house.
Later the same evening, with evidence collected during the traffic stops, detectives applied for, obtained, and executed a search warrant for the NE Moonlight Dr house, where additional evidence was collected. When detectives arrived at the home with the Search Warrant, they found two other suspects attempting to collect and remove drug evidence from the home after being alerted to the earlier arrests.
A subsequent search of the house revealed a commercial and substantial quantity of powered fentanyl, diethyltryptamine (a schedule 1 psychedelic drug), cocaine, and fake pharmaceutical pills made of fentanyl.
A “commercial quantity” of fentanyl is defined by statute as five grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. This is not a separate criminal charge but rather an increase in the sentencing guidelines.
