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29,000-plus fentanyl pills, meth sent to Washington post office in microwaves, other appliances

A Benton City man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after federal agents investigated a tip that he was using the U.S. Postal Service to bring large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine to the Tri-Cities area.

Angel Barajas-Zarate pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

After the Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force of the FBI began investigating, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service notified the FBI in July 2022 of a suspicious package sent from Anaheim, Calif., to a box at the Benton City Post Office rented by Barajas-Zarate.

The package’s route was being electronically tracked through a device in Mexico, according to court documents.

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