Drug Task Force investigates human trafficking ring

WENATCHEE – On March 23, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Chief Ryan Moody, Commander of the Columbia River Drug Task Force (CRDTF) issued a media release about a long-term human trafficking investigation that resulted in the service of five search warrants at various locations across the state.

In 2022, CRDTF detectives were made aware of two local massage parlors which were a front for prostitution. Over the course of the investigation, two suspects were identified as a part of this human trafficking organization and warrants were issued for their arrest. These individuals have been identified as 60-year-old Linhui Yan and 44-year-old Yan Yang out of Tacoma.

The charges include: leading organized crime, promoting prostitution, and money laundering.

On March 1, CRDTF detectives led a joint operation involving the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Wenatchee Police Department, East Wenatchee Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Kennewick Police Department, South Sound Gang Task Force, Department of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security.

Search warrants were served at the following locations: 400 block of North Mission Street in Wenatchee, 300 block of North Chelan Ave in Wenatchee, 6200 block of Clearwater in Kennewick, 3600 block of Tyler Street in Tacoma, and 2000 block of 1022nd Street in Tacoma.

During the course of the investigation detectives were able to contact some of the victims of human trafficking in the case. They were offered and given any available resources they were willing to accept.    

As of this writing, the suspects Linhui Yan and Yan Yang have not been arrested, and their current location is unknown. There are still warrants for their arrest.  Please contact the Columbia River Drug Task Force at 509-667-6337, if you have any information on the location of the suspects. 

There are no additional suspect or charges being considered at this time. This is an ongoing investigation, additional details will be released when available.