TIGARD, Ore. — What federal officials once hailed as one of the largest heroin busts in Oregon history has unraveled, with new evidence showing the seized liquid was almost entirely water.
From Major Bust to Major Doubts
The case dates back to January 2024, when federal investigators arrested four men at a Motel 6 in Tigard. Authorities alleged the men were transporting a massive shipment of heroin from Yakima, Washington, to the Portland area.
Officials said the suspects were driving a rented U-Haul truck carrying eight 55-gallon barrels. Seven of those barrels, according to initial field tests, appeared to contain heroin. At the time, federal prosecutors estimated the seizure represented “50 million lethal doses” of the drug.
Six men were eventually charged in connection with the case.
Forensic Analysis Tells a Different Story
The narrative shifted dramatically after a defense attorney hired a forensic chemist to conduct independent testing. The chemist’s report revealed the barrels contained 99.999% water and only 0.001% heroin…