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DEA Executes Largest Fentanyl Seizure in U.S. History, Arrests Sinaloa Cartel Leader

Federal authorities dismantle a major drug trafficking network spanning six western states, seizing 400 kilograms of fentanyl and arresting 16 suspects, including a high-ranking cartel leader.

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Posters seized drugs are seen before US Attorney General Pam Bondi held a press conference at the Treasury Department in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. Bondi announced the outcome of a weeklong, multi-agency enforcement operation targeting one of the largest drug trafficking organizations responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.
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Overview

  • The DEA-led operation seized 396 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, enough to produce millions of lethal doses.
  • Sixteen individuals were arrested, including Heriberto Salazar Amaya, an alleged leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, taken into custody in Oregon.
  • The drug trafficking network operated across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon, distributing fentanyl and other narcotics.
  • Authorities also confiscated $5 million in cash, 49 firearms, and additional quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.
  • The operation coincides with a policy debate over proposed federal budget cuts to naloxone funding, which public health experts warn could undermine recent progress in reducing overdose deaths.