Update for Oct. 21

Please click here for the full story on today's press conference, including a slideshow.

Dubbed operation "Center of Attention," the ATF's Violent Crime Task Force brought justice to White Center on Oct. 20 after 90-days of investigation.

53 people were arrested and agents siezed 68 guns, 51 lbs of meth, 2 lbs of crack cocaine and over 10 pounds of powder cocaine in the bust.

At the press conference on Friday, agents said four businesses on 16th Ave S.W. were operating as fronts and at least two business owners have been arrested.

A full story will be posted shortly.

Update for 9:45 pm, Oct. 20
Beating the press conference to the punch, PubliCola reports two White Center bars were raided as fronts for drug and gun dealers.

PubliCola’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee cited unnamed law enforcement sources in the story that names Papa’s Pub and Grill and DK’s Asian Restaurant and Bar as the fronts. Over the course of a three-month investigation, “undercover agents bought crack cocaine, methamphetamine and guns” at the bars, Spangenthal-Lee wrote.

Guns and drugs were recovered in the raids and several arrests were made.

The report said it was unknown at this time whether the bar owners were involved or “commandeered” by criminals.

More details to come after the official press conference tomorrow.

Update for 4:35 pm, Oct. 20
3 months of undercover work in the White Center area resulted in dozens of arrests on Oct. 20, according to a U.S. Attorney press release.

Representatives from U.S. Attorneys, King County Prosecutor's Office, ATF agents, King County Sheriff's Office, Seattle Police, Homeland Security and Washington Dept. of Corrections will all gather at Steve Cox Memorial Park Field House at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21 to discuss what is being called an "anti-crime initiative led by ATF's Violent Gang Task Force."

Various defendants arrested in the bust are expected to make court appearances tomorrow as well.

This story will be updated after the press conference.

Original post
Federal law enforcement, supported by the King County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 units, acted on simultaneous search and arrest warrants on 16th Ave S.W. in the heart of White Center on the afternoon of Oct. 20, according to KCSO's John Urquhart.

U.S. Attorney’s Office press contact Emily Langlie said the operation is still active so she could not comment specifically on which federal agencies are involved or the nature of the search warrants, but further details should be released by tomorrow, Oct. 21.

A tipster told the Herald/News the bust was centered on Papa’s Pub and Grill, however official sources have not confirmed location at this time.

The Herald/Times recently ran a story called, “Papa’s Pub and Grill in White Center is trying to overcome a dark reputation” looking into the bar’s reputation for some as refuge for drug dealing and other criminal activity.

In that interview Papa’s day manager Mark Weatherhogg said, “"We're working hard now on our reputation and making sure that when people come here they can have a relaxing time. We're kicking out the undesirables that we don't need to have in here. That makes our place look bad."

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.