Hells Angels' Drug Supply Pinched

(Seattle, Washington) After a three-year investigation, federal agents on Thursday took down a British Columbia to U.S. drug operation operated by the Hells Angels. Dozens of dealers and smugglers have been arrested and charged.

With state and local help, officers from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration confiscated in excess of 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 7,000 pounds of "B.C. Bud" marijuana and about $3.5 million in cash.

Last I read, the price of wholesale cocaine was going for $5,000 to $15,000 per pound, making the ICE/DEA haul worth between $6.5 million and $19.5 million. With the going price of B.C. Bud between $3,000 and $10,000 per pound, the federal agents confiscated property with a value between $21 million and $70 million.

The massive drug operation is allegedly the work of Robert Shannon,38, and Devron D. Quast, 38, both B.C. residents, who lead indictments issued in federal court in Seattle. Both have been arrested.

Arguably, the Hells Angels will feel a pinch by this bust. Simple arithmetic tells me that at low-bottom, empty pockets, at least $30 million is lost. Unfortunately, the soulless drug purveyors customarily withstand the hit. Most law-abiding entrepreneurs would likely fold.