A 37-year-old Kent man, one of the leaders of a violent international drug trafficking organization, received a prison sentence of 12-plus years.

U.S. District Court Judge John C. Coughenour sentenced Jose Elias Barbosa on Tuesday, Feb. 28 to just over 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release to follow prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The drug ring distributed heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region and used guns and threats of violence to collect debts.

“This cartel connected drug trafficking ring damaged our community with dangerous drugs, and with their guns and threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Our focus is on curtailing the flow of dangerous and addictive drugs into Western Washington. We need the community to work together to reduce the market for these substances.”

According to records filed in the case, Barbosa pleaded guilty in August 2022, admitting he was one of the leaders of a transnational drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement has linked the organization to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Mexico. In November 2019, the drug ring received a shipment of liquid methamphetamine concealed in candles. Barbosa helped drug trafficking organization members to extract the methamphetamine and cook it into crystal form at a Port Orchard location.

While surveilling the Port Orchard residence, law enforcement heard multiple gunshots and later learned Barbosa had been shot in the collarbone, according to court documents. Members of the drug ring grew concerned law enforcement would arrive at the Port Orchard house, so they loaded the meth infused candle wax into a van. The van was later stopped by law enforcement who seized the meth and the processing equipment.

In all, Barbosa was responsible for the distribution of at least 55 pounds of methamphetamine, 600 grams of heroin, and fentanyl throughout Western Washington and elsewhere.

The wiretapped phone calls revealed that Barbosa pursued those who owed drug debts to the organization and possessed firearms during the drug conspiracy. According to the plea agreement, on one occasion, Barbosa took a car from another drug ring member to satisfy a drug debt. Barbosa later threatened that same drug ring member. The wiretapped calls show Barbosa and others talked frequently about kidnappings, assaults and even murders as ways to get debtors to pay up.

“Every day the men and women of the DEA in Seattle and throughout the U.S. are working tirelessly to stop dangerous drugs from entering our country,” said Jacob D. Galvan, acting special agent in charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “We will continue with all of our partners in holding those like Mr. Barbosa accountable and protecting our communities from illicit narcotics, guns and violence.”

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Tacoma Resident Office in partnership with Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team, Kent Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, SeaTac Police Department, Thurston County Narcotics Team, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation.