Montana Tribal Lands Targeted in Massive Drug Trafficking Operation

Luis Esquivel-Bolanos, known on the streets as “Colorado,” has been found guilty on multiple charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

The 45-year-old man from Guerrero, Mexico, stood trial in front of United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, with proceedings beginning April 14, 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for July 16, and Esquivel-Bolanos faces the possibility of life behind bars, along with removal from the United States.

Cartel Connections: Drugs Flooded Tribal Lands in Washington and Montana

Federal authorities, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), tied Esquivel-Bolanos to a drug trafficking organization responsible for pushing massive quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine into the Eastern District of Washington and across tribal reservations in Montana.

The reach extended across the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington to the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Rocky Boy’s, Fort Belknap, and Flathead Reservations in Montana. Within Eastern Washington, Esquivel-Bolanos served as the right-hand man to the group’s leader, Erubey Arciga Medrano, who has already pleaded guilty.

Threats, Violence, and Cartel Tactics Used to Maintain Control

Testimony during the trial painted a picture of a violent drug ring with ties to the notorious Jalisco Cartel. The organization used threats and fear to keep its operation intact. In one example, a confidential informant was strip-searched and threatened with death. In another incident, Esquivel-Bolanos ordered members of the group to intimidate a person suspected of stealing more than thirty pounds of meth by threatening to kill them.

SEE ALSO: Why the FBI Will Intensify Its Presence in Montana

Massive Seizures in Okanogan County Bust

On April 19, 2023, federal and local authorities raided several homes in rural Okanogan County, near Oroville, Washington. The bust netted a staggering haul:

• 161,000 fentanyl-laced pills (including rainbow-colored varieties and “Mexi-blues”)
• 80 pounds of methamphetamine
• 6 pounds of heroin
• Over 2 pounds of cocaine
• 12 firearms

Much of this stash was discovered inside a trailer where Esquivel-Bolanos was living.

Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Applaud Conviction

Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker, who helped try the case, praised the outcome and the scope of the investigation: “The volume of drugs removed from Eastern Washington and Montana communities, including from Tribal land, is staggering.”

Barker also credited the coordinated efforts of law enforcement for dismantling such a dangerous operation.

Tribal Communities Purposefully Targeted

Officials emphasized that this drug trafficking organization specifically targeted vulnerable tribal communities. Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson of the BIA stated, “This investigation revealed the purposeful and specific exploitation of Indian Country by the members of this criminal network...”

DEA: “The Worst Offenders”

David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division, echoed the sentiment: “Drug traffickers who purposely prey on our tribal communities are the worst offenders, and with the help of the jury, this Mexican National will be held accountable.”

A Coordinated Response Under OCDETF

This case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which enhances coordination between federal, state, and tribal agencies.

The investigation and prosecution included support from a wide coalition of agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and multiple Tribal and local law enforcement agencies.

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In total, 27 defendants were charged and convicted across parallel prosecutions in both Washington and Montana, sending a clear signal: trafficking drugs into tribal lands will come at a steep cost.