A Mexican immigrant accused of trafficking cocaine in Lewis County is being held in the Lewis County Jail on a 72-hour hold pending possible felony charges. 

Federal agents and detectives with the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) executed a search warrant on the home of Jose Ramirez Picazo in Centralia on Feb. 13 and reportedly found three firearms, $8,000 in cash, multiple suspected forged Social Security cards and multiple suspected counterfeit permanent residence cards bearing his name, according to documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday. They also reportedly found documents showing Ramirez Picazo was born in Mexico. 

Detectives began investigating Ramirez Picazo, who has been identified as a possible cocaine trafficker, in November 2024, according to court documents. 

Investigators allege that during the investigation, Ramirez Picazo “delivered suspected cocaine to a confidential source within the boundaries of Lewis County,” according to court documents. 

He was also allegedly seen at a gun store in Centralia, where he allegedly handled three firearms. 

He was booked into the Lewis County Jail at 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 on delivery of a controlled substance and alien in possession of a firearm charges, according to jail records. 

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office asked a judge Friday to set conditions of release for Ramirez Picazo for 72 hours pending a charging decision. 

“He does reside here with wife and family, so obviously (he has) strong ties to this area,” defense attorney Rachael Tiller said of Ramirez Picazo on Friday. 

He has no prior criminal history, according to Tiller. 

“We don’t know exactly what we’re dealing with yet,” Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said in response, referring to the suspected forged documents and the firearms found in Ramirez Picazo’s residence. 

“I do agree that this is a case where it’s appropriate to hold Mr. Ramirez without bail for the 72-hour period,” Lewis County Superior Court Judge Paul Strophy said Friday, adding that the court would determine an appropriate bail amount if he is charged at the end of the 72-hour hold. 

Ramirez Picazo is set to be released on Feb. 19 if charges are not filed before then. 

A follow-up hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. If the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office intends to file charges against Ramirez Picazo before the 72-hour hold expires, they will be filed before that hearing, Meyer said.