The Department of Justice on Tuesday announced the largest fentanyl seizure in the history of the Drug Enforcement Administration, arresting 16 individuals-among them a senior Sinaloa cartel figure-and seizing three million pills laced with the deadly opioid. Attorney General Pamela Bondi called the coordinated, multistate operation "the most significant victory in our nation's fight against fentanyl and drug trafficking to date."
The sweeping enforcement action targeted the cartel's drug distribution network operating across five Western states: New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. Among those taken into custody was Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, a Mexican national identified as a cartel leader, apprehended in Salem, Oregon.
"This historic drug seizure, led by the DEA, is a significant blow against the Sinaloa Cartel that removes poison from our streets and protects American citizens from the scourge of fentanyl," Bondi said at a press conference.
Federal authorities reported the seizure of over 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of fentanyl pills, 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 80 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 4.5 kilograms of heroin. The bust also yielded $5 million in cash, 49 rifles and pistols, and additional contraband including jewelry and luxury vehicles.
Robert Murphy, acting administrator of the DEA, stated, "This case represents DEA's largest single seizure of fentanyl pills." U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, who leads the New Mexico district, described the dismantled operation as a "sophisticated fentanyl and narcotics distribution network."
The Sinaloa cartel was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in February. Bondi, when asked if the arrested suspects would be deported to Mexico, said, "I want them to stay in our prisons as long as possible," adding, "Most of these individuals, if convicted, will remain in American prisons, perhaps Alcatraz," referencing the shuttered federal facility that President Donald Trump has previously said he would consider reopening.
Charges against the suspects include conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and firearms violations.
Fentanyl has emerged as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 34. "They are flooding our cities with a weapon of mass destruction, fentanyl," Bondi said. DEA statistics indicate overdose deaths among Americans aged 18 to 44 remain the top mortality driver in that demographic.
While fentanyl fatalities remain high, overdose deaths have declined in recent years. Between 2022 and 2023, the nation saw a 4% drop in overdose deaths, with an additional 17% decline recorded between July 2023 and July 2024.
The Justice Department released photos of the seized items, showcasing stockpiles of pills, firearms, and cash that underscored the scale of the cartel's operation.
