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2d ago

U.S. Executes Largest Fentanyl Bust, Seizing Millions of Pills

A six-state DEA operation dismantled a major trafficking network, capturing 16 suspects and confiscating record-breaking quantities of drugs and contraband.

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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

  • Federal authorities seized 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder and approximately 3 million fentanyl-laced pills, the largest such seizure in U.S. history.
  • The operation spanned six western states, including New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon, after a six-month investigation.
  • Sixteen individuals were arrested, including Heriberto Salazar Amaya, alleged leader of the network, though court filings do not confirm Sinaloa Cartel ties.
  • Additional contraband seized included methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, 49 firearms, $5 million in cash, and several luxury vehicles.
  • The bust has reignited debates over border security, the prosecution of undocumented suspects, and proposed cuts to naloxone funding, a critical overdose-reversal tool.