Illegal immigrants arrested for drugs, money laundering

CHELSEA DUNCAN, cduncan@newsreview.info
April 6, 2006

Two men were arrested on drug charges Wednesday when police found more than $18,000 in their vehicle during a traffic stop on Interstate 5.

Police observed Javier Piedra Vargas, 23, of Everett, Wash., driving a 2004 Mitsubishi four-door traveling south at speeds around 90 mph near Cottage Grove, according to an Oregon State Police report.

Piedra drove the vehicle in between two other vehicles and then tailgated another vehicle for about a mile, police said.

When police pulled the vehicle over at Milepost 134 near Sutherlin, they received a consent to search and found $18,581, most of which was packaged in bundles of $1,000, said OSP Detective David Randall.

Vargas and his passenger, Juan Piedra Vargas, 21, also of Everett, admitted the money was from selling marijuana in Washington, Randall said. The two men then admitted they were on their way to California to purchase more marijuana.

The men were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to deliver marijuana. Javier Vargas was also cited for following too close.

The two men have been living in Everett, but are actually illegal immigrants from Mexico, Randall said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is assisting with the investigation, which has been turned over to the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team.

http://www.newsreview.info/article/20060406/NEWS/104060098