BELLINGHAM, WA – Law enforcement seized enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of Bellingham in the bust-up of a drug operation in a local homeless encampment.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says they were tipped off a month ago about a large-scale drug distribution network being run from the encampment in the 4400 block of the Guide Meridian.

The suspect tied to the operation was identified as Rigoberto Vasquez Martinez, who was found in Oregon with 70,000 fentanyl-laced pills during a routine traffic stop on August 29th.

The Sheriff’s Office Gang and Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on Martinez’s storage unit in Lynwood later that day.

They found over 10 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, a loaded handgun and $46,000 in cash in the unit.

Detectives believe the drugs were destined to be distributed in Bellingham.

Detectives searched Martinez’s compound in the homeless camp two days later and found four firearms, more drugs and cash, and 13 dogs that were rescued and delivered to the Whatcom Humane Society.