PRESS RELEASE

Drug Enforcement Administration Announces the Seizure of Over 379 million Deadly Doses of Fentanyl in 2022

January 04, 2023
… worked to seize over 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl from communities across the country,” said Administrator … secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China. In 2021, the DEA issued a  Public Safety Alert … a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. This is an increase from DEA’s announcement in 2021 that four out of ten …
January 04, 2023
PRESS RELEASE

Selling Synthetic Drugs Results in $9.2M Forfeiture and Prison for Seven

September 07, 2022
… public.    In 2015, authorities began investigating a smoke shop in Laredo. During that time, they discovered a … Freeze and Death Grip which were delivered to shop owners from California. Payments were often sent to accounts Bowles … During the investigation, authorities tracked payments from multiple retail smoke shops throughout the United …
September 07, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

August 19, 2022
… the public on the serious dangers of fentanyl poisoning from fake pills and other illicit drugs.  DEA supports the … has ever encountered,” said Administrator Anne Milgram.  “From large cities to rural America, no community is safe …
August 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

Former Nurse Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Tampering with Morphine Medications at Moses Lake Clinic

August 01, 2022
… Confluence Health, Tuller used syringes to remove morphine from at least 17 vials, and then ingested that morphine as … to be in excruciating pain after receiving only saline from what was supposed to be morphine vials. In sentencing … actions and investigations helped remove an individual from a position of trust and stop any further harm from …
August 01, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

Former El Paso Police Officer Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

June 23, 2022
… stash house. On November 10, 2020, agents seized $14,405 from Saenz’s residence and 1.2 kilograms of cocaine from a stash house he used. During the investigation … undercover agents bought quantities of cocaine from Saenz at his residence. On July 26, 2021, Fred Saenz …
June 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

DEA and partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27

April 27, 2019
… remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to … of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique …
April 27, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

15 People Convicted in $11M Cartel Drug Conspiracy

April 27, 2022
… “These individuals were a thorn that has now been ripped from the city of Laredo and surrounding areas thanks to the … planned to use the vehicle to pick up a marijuana load from a warehouse on San Mateo Drive in Laredo. Law … seized approximately 1,168 kilograms of marijuana from the ranch and an additional 969 kilograms from inside …
April 27, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Holds 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to prevent addiction and reduce overdose deaths

April 19, 2022
… Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This bi-annual event offers free, … . “Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. … who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease …
April 19, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

Seven people charged with trafficking cocaine in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin

January 08, 2021
… December 2, 2020, over two kilograms of cocaine were seized from Luis Morales’ vehicle and residence. If convicted, Luis … law enforcement partners to keep Wisconsin citizens safe from the distribution of illegal drugs and the violence that … of law enforcement to bring to justice those who profit from drug trafficking.” “Outstanding work by agents with …
January 08, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

DEA announces 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

October 19, 2020
… that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.     Collection sites will … DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are …
October 19, 2020
PRESS RELEASE

Thirteen charged, eight search warrants, more than a thousand grams of fentanyl, three firearms seized in Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation

November 19, 2019
… will act aggressively to protect our neighborhoods from being inundated with deadly illegal drugs like cocaine … it is alleged that the individual purchasing the fentanyl from Rivera was introduced to Rafael Ferrer, 39, of … Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, the Providence, …
November 19, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

Rhode Island man sentenced to 179 months for trafficking heroin into Southeastern Connecticut

August 05, 2019
… the evidence introduced during the trial, this matter stems from an investigation that began after several heroin … quantities of heroin. Luciano, who also received heroin from sources in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, distributed … warrants and seized more than three kilograms of heroin from other members of the conspiracy and approximately …
August 05, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

10 Charged for Multi-Year Cocaine Conspiracy

January 14, 2022
… and Larry Dotson, 40, Madison. This indictment charges that from December 2014 to November 2020, Winfield Agee and … or more of cocaine.  The indictment also charges that from November 2010 to July 2020, Agee conspired to … occurred on Jan. 13, 2022. The indictment also charges that from December 2018 to May 2020, Jason Hall conspired to …
January 14, 2022
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Reveals Criminal Drug Networks Are Flooding the U.S. with Deadly Fentanyl

December 16, 2021
… announced the results of a public safety surge that lasted from September 29, 2021 through December 14, 2021. The surge … fake prescription pills, using chemicals sourced largely from China. These fake prescription pills are designed to …
December 16, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

Colombian Nationals Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Use “Narco-Submarines”

September 14, 2021
… Organization have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a conspiracy to distribute cocaine using vessels … (SPSS) vessels, sometimes known as narco-submarines, from Colombia into the Pacific Ocean, destined for Sinaloa … the U.S. interdicted three SPSS vessels that had departed from Colombia and were en route to Mexico. The first SPSS …
September 14, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Dealer Who Ordered Dumping of Body of Fentanyl Overdose Victim Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

June 23, 2021
… Sheriff’s Office, a dangerous drug dealer has been removed from the Tampa area and a life sentence ensures he can no … “We know there is a delineation between those who suffer from substance abuse and addiction and those who prey on … for the harm and destruction they cause on those suffering from substance abuse and addiction, their families and our …
June 23, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

Leaders of Colombia’s “Clan Rincon” sentenced to prison terms for roles in international drug trafficking conspiracy

March 17, 2020
… are emeralds and cocaine. Most of the world’s emeralds come from Boyacá and the region is rife with coca farms that … owners of emerald mines pay “taxes” to FARC.  To stop FARC from taxing the family’s emerald mines, Pedro, the leader of Clan Rincon, arranged intervention from the Defense Forces of Colombia (known by its Spanish …
March 17, 2020
PRESS RELEASE

Two Colombian nationals and one Belizean national sentenced for roles in international cocaine smuggling conspiracy

August 13, 2019
… 30 to 40 bales of cocaine onboard a go-fast vessel from Colombia to Belize, following a known cocaine smuggling … Dec. 1, 2018, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft deployed from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C. spotted and recorded … vessel were interdicted and boarded by USCG officers from the Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific. That …
August 13, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

Los Angeles men sentenced to 20 & 25 years in prison for running nationwide synthetic drug trafficking ring

June 21, 2018
… jury trial in Syracuse in July 2017. Upon their release from prison, Raymond and Requena will each serve a … diamond necklaces, and diamond rings; and funds seized from 16 bank accounts. Additionally, the court ordered a … throughout the country, including to multiple “head shops” in the Northern District of New York. Documents found …
June 21, 2018
PRESS RELEASE

Money Laundering Scheme Exposed

November 01, 2005
… in January of this year and includes investigators from DEA, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of … money. The indictment alleges they took U.S. currency made from the sale of narcotics in Colombia and laundered it … who, according to the indictment, told them the money came from the manufacturing and distribution of marijuana.” …
November 01, 2005
PRESS RELEASE

Armed Career Criminal Receives 20 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Charges

July 08, 2021
… this collaboration, another violent felon has been removed from the communities of Leon County. ”This case is another … Office (LCSO) made two controlled purchases of cocaine from Penn, leading to a search warrant for his apartment. … LCSO conducted another controlled purchase of cocaine from Penn on Oct. 13, 2020 and obtained a second search …
July 08, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

Twenty-Two Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Antonio Area

April 15, 2021
… Kareem.R.Vaughn@dea.gov HOUSTON - Twenty-two defendants from San Antonio, Del Rio and Laredo face federal drug … Garcia, Alvarado, Bartlett, and Albelardo Oviedo conspired from June 2019 until April 7, 2021, to distribute methamphetamine. It also alleges that from June 2019 until April 7, 2021, Oscar Oviedo, Vasquez, …
April 15, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

DEA announces 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

October 19, 2020
… that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Collection sites will adhere … DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are …
October 19, 2020
PRESS RELEASE

Attorney General William P. Barr Joins DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea to Announce Results of Operation Crystal Shield

September 10, 2020
… our state and local partners to prevent this deadly drug from reaching the streets of our communities. Prosecuting … devotion of DEA and our partners to protect our communities from the scourge of drug trafficking and violent crime under …
September 10, 2020
PRESS RELEASE

Former Mexican governor extradited on money laundering charges

October 29, 2019
… transaction, the property constituted or was derived from proceeds traceable to offenses including bribery of a … holders and allegedly transferred stolen Coahuila finances from Mexico into an account in Brownsville. They later … charges allege the Mexican government employed Torres-Lopez from 1994 to 2011. His roles allegedly included work as the …
October 29, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

Jury finds Fresno man guilty on six counts of drug and sex trafficking offenses

May 10, 2019
…    “It excites me to see ruthless gang members removed from our society, especially those like Filiberto Chavez who … and Lockhart’s apartments and seized methamphetamine from both.   Additionally, in June and July of 2017, Chavez … each of their prostitutes. On July 2, 2017, Chavez flew from California to New York with his prostitute. On July 18, …
May 10, 2019
PRESS RELEASE

Omaha Division Special Agent Carlos Lavastida awarded Enrique S. Camarena Award

December 20, 2018
… Carlos Lavastida is one of three law enforcement officers from Iowa presented with the Enrique S. Camarena Award by … Thimmesch said. “By removing these drug and sex traffickers from the streets of metropolitan Des Moines, Special Agent … keeping young people involved in lawful activities and away from criminal activity and drug abuse.  Officer Brandt’s …
December 20, 2018
PRESS RELEASE

DEA In Springfield, Missouri Achieve Significant Prison Sentences For Two Recent Investigations

May 24, 2018
… prison sentence in another case. These sentences originated from two different drug investigations that were charged, … began as the officer attempted to retrieve the key fob from Soto-Garcia.  Soto-Garcia threw the fob underneath the … money counter, and approximately five grams of crystal meth from Soto-Garcia’s residence.  Seized from the “stash” …
May 24, 2018
PRESS RELEASE

Long Island Doctor Convicted Of Causing The Overdose Deaths Of Two Patients And Illegally Distributing Oxycodone

May 23, 2018
… Donoghue. “The defendant lined his pockets with cash from patients in exchange for illegally prescribing … for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic.” “From the time he was arrested, to today’s conviction, it was …
May 23, 2018
PRESS RELEASE

New Orleans-area Woman Pleads Guilty To Scheme To Possess Oxycodone By Fraud And To Possess With Intent To Distribute Oxycodone On The Black Market

April 04, 2018
… physicians who have their prescription templates stolen from them.  DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, … aggressively pursue those who seek to perpetuate and profit from the opioid crisis in this country, as well as undermine … who contribute to this problem, especially those who steal from physicians to do so.”  “HHS-OIG will never hesitate to …
April 04, 2018