Two Washington women arrested in Post Falls meth trafficking case

Two Washougal, Washington, women were arrested in Post Falls after deputies found about 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine in a bag labeled "Smelly Proof" and marijuana in several parts of their car. The stop turned into a trafficking case, not just a simple possession arrest.

The women were identified as 65-year-old Laurie Wainwright and Jeannie Sanders. The allegations center on methamphetamine trafficking and marijuana possession, with narcotics reported in multiple areas of the vehicle, a detail that points investigators toward distribution rather than isolated use.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has seen similar roadside seizures before. An archive in the agency’s civic records describes a March 5, 2024 traffic stop in Post Falls that led to the seizure of methamphetamine, fentanyl, a firearm and paraphernalia, showing how drug cases in the city often emerge during traffic enforcement rather than from street-level arrests alone.

That pattern matters in Post Falls, where drug arrests can ripple into property crime, public health, family stability and neighborhood safety. Methamphetamine remains one of the most damaging drugs in local criminal cases because of its ties to addiction, theft, child welfare concerns and repeated calls for law enforcement.

For residents in one of Kootenai County’s fastest-growing cities, the case also shows how out-of-state suspects and vehicle searches keep surfacing in local narcotics work. The seizure of methamphetamine, along with marijuana found in several spots in the car, left deputies with evidence of a broader drug investigation and another example of how trafficking allegations can surface on local roads before they reach neighborhoods.