Portland, Oregon – A 29-year-old man from Estacada, Oregon, is facing federal drug charges after authorities intercepted him transporting a substantial quantity of methamphetamine from Southern California into the Pacific Northwest.
Authorities have charged Anthony Barrera by criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. The charges stem from a long-running federal investigation that identified Barrera as a suspected interstate drug courier operating between California and Oregon.
According to court documents, federal and local investigators began tracking Barrera after receiving intelligence that he was frequently traveling south to obtain significant quantities of controlled substances for distribution in Oregon. As part of the investigation, agents determined that Barrera had recently rented a vehicle for one of these drug runs. Surveillance teams followed him as he drove northbound along Interstate 5, one of the primary trafficking corridors in the western United States.
On May 24, 2025, law enforcement located Barrera driving the rented vehicle near Roseburg, Oregon. Officers coordinated a stop at a nearby rest area, where they arrested Barrera without incident. A federal search warrant was executed on the vehicle shortly after his arrest. Inside, investigators discovered a massive haul: 270 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of cocaine, hidden in both the backseat and the cargo area.
Later that same day, agents searched Barrera’s residence in Estacada, where they uncovered additional evidence of illegal activity. Police discovered two firearms concealed under the floorboards of a closet, suggesting that Barrera may have been involved in drug distribution at a larger scale and possibly prepared to defend his operation.
Barrera made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Oregon. He has been ordered held in custody pending further legal proceedings.
The FBI and the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT), a multi-agency task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program are leading the investigation. The DDT includes members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, the Gresham Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the District of Oregon. If convicted, Barrera could face significant prison time under federal sentencing guidelines due to the volume of narcotics involved and the presence of firearms connected to drug trafficking.
