Venezuelan National arrested with large load of drugs

Seattle – A 22-year-old Venezuelan National made his initial appearance this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, following his arrest in Federal Way, Washington with a large amount of suspected narcotics, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Sebastian Velasquez-Perez was taken into custody at St Francis Hospital after he was treated for a drug overdose. He remains in federal detention pending a hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025.

According to the criminal complaint, on March 8, 2025, Federal Way Police were called to a Federal Way motel when staff discovered Velasquez-Perez unresponsive in his room. The staff administered two doses of NARCAN and performed CPR. Velasquez-Perez was transported to the hospital, and law enforcement obtained a court order to search the room.

In the room law enforcement seized: five bags containing approximately 3.2 kilograms of methamphetamine; 12 bags of a powdery substance that will be tested as a possible controlled substance; five bags of fentanyl pills – approximately 5,000 pills in all; and two bags of black tar substance appearing to be heroin.  Also in the room three cellphones, a digital scale with drug residue, and nearly $8,000 in cash.

There were no documents in the hotel room indicating that Velasquez-Perez was legally present in the United States.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), and the Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET).