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3w ago

DEA-Led Operation Yields Largest Fentanyl Bust in U.S. History

Federal authorities dismantle Sinaloa Cartel cell across six states, seizing millions of fentanyl pills and arresting 16 suspects.

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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

  • Authorities seized 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, approximately 3 million fentanyl pills, and large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
  • The operation resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals, including alleged cartel leader Heriberto Salazar Amaya and six undocumented individuals who will face U.S. prosecution.
  • The drug trafficking network spanned six western states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.
  • The multi-agency effort, led by the DEA, also confiscated 49 firearms, $5 million in cash, and luxury vehicles, delivering a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel.
  • This operation is part of the federal government’s intensified response to the fentanyl crisis, which claims over 75,000 American lives annually.