Alleged heroin trafficker arrested

MOSES LAKE -- A Moses Lake man is in custody after detectives from Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team and officers from the Moses Lake Police Department arrested him for suspicion of several drug-related crimes.

Juan Quintana, 25, was arrested around 4 p.m. Wednesday July 17 near the Moses Lake Community Health Center.

Quintana, who according to police is an alleged leader of a heroin trafficking ring in Moses Lake, is facing criminal charges of two counts of delivery of heroin in a school zone and conspiracy to deliver heroin, all felonies. If convicted, the school zone enhancements alone would put Quintana in prison for a minimum of 48 months.

The arrest was the result of a several-month-long investigation by INET detectives who have been working diligently to fight the distribution of heroin in Moses Lake and Grant County.

“I again commend INET for putting pressure on heroin traffickers and dealers,” said Sheriff Tom Jones. “INET’s emphasis on targeting and arresting major local drug distributors is making a positive impact on the safety of our communities.”

INET is supervised by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and includes detectives from the Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, and Moses Lake Police Department.