Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas man arrested as part of alleged drug trafficking organization

A Las Vegas man and 14 other members of an alleged multi-state oxycodone trafficking organization were indicted Thursday on three federal charges, authorities said.

Kingsley Iyare Osemwengie, 25, of Las Vegas, faces federal charges alleging conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, laundering drug proceeds and travel in interstate commerce to facilitate drug trafficking.

The three-count indictment charges defendants from Portland, Milwaukie, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., with taking part in a conspiracy from 2008 to the present and further alleges that the organization laundered in excess of $1,720,962 through various bank accounts in Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and New York.

“Money laundering...is essential to drug dealing,” said Marcus Williams, the IRS special agent in charge of the Pacific Northwest. “One of our main goals is to always deprive traffickers of the luxury items purchased with drug money.”

Officials said the alleged conspirators used drug proceeds to acquire seven luxury automobiles, including four Bentleys and three Mercedes-Benzs.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement executed more than a dozen search warrants in

Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, and Florida and more than 20 seizure warrants for bank accounts and vehicles. Officials said thousands of oxycodone pills were seized along with five handguns, marijuana, crack cocaine and cash.

Law enforcement authorities arrested six of the defendants in Oregon and Washington, one in Florida, and three in Las Vegas.

“Prescription drug abuse in the United States is alarmingly high and is responsible for more drug overdose deaths than cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines combined,” DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Thomas said. “This joint investigation is the result of federal, state, and local law enforcement combating a significant trafficking problem: the illegal sale of prescription narcotics.”

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