The Moses Lake Police Department has made another huge drug bust less than three weeks after making "the largest drug seizure in the history of INET."
Monday morning the MLPD recovered over 11 pounds of heroin, six illegally possessed firearms (one of which was an illegally modified short-barrel shotgun), some steroids, and $3,800 in cash.
Two Moses Lake men, Leo Dabalos, 50, and Andre Balderas, 34, have also been booked into the Grant County Jail on a variety of drug and weapons charges.
Authorities say the investigation into Dabalos and Balderas began Saturday morning when they got a lead that the two were selling large quantities of heroin. By Monday morning, police were able to obtain and serve search warrants at two Moses Lake locations: a residence located in the 1400 block of Marina, and a converted business space at 110 W. Broadway.
Balderas was booked for delivery of heroin and possession of steroids. Dabalos was booked for delivery of heroin, possession of heroin and six counts of felon in possession of a firearm, as well as possession of a short barrel shotgun.
In a Facebook post the Moses Lake Police Department says that when you combine this drug bust with the last one not even three weeks ago, "that is over 50 lbs. of heroin and methamphetamine taken off the streets inside the city limits of Moses Lake this month. That represents a street value north of $1.5 million. While the recent busts have put a dent in the local heroin trade, we have been assured that new shipments of heroin are on the way, although at a higher price. We, as well as our local user community, will be waiting."
(story: Nichole Mischke, KHQ Right Now Reporter, KHQ.com; photos: Moses Lake Police Department)