DEA ‘operational surge’ leads to over 600 arrests, seizure of 10,000 kilograms of illicit drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced Tuesday that a five-day operation across the U.S. and parts of the world targeting the Sinaloa Cartel led to more than 600 arrests, thousands of kilograms of drugs being seized, and millions in currency and assets being recovered. 

DEA officials revealed details of the “operational surge” that took place between Aug. 25 and Aug. 29. According to a news release, the operation was aimed at “dismantling” the Sinaloa Cartel.  

“[The Sinaloa Cartel] is one of the world’s most violent and powerful drug cartels, responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin,” the news release reads.  

The Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Trump administration on Feb. 20, as were seven other groups, including other Mexico-based cartels such as the Gulf Cartel, Cartel de Jalisco Nuevo Generacion and La Nueva Familia Michoacana. Other groups labeled Foreign Terrorist Organizations on the same day are MS-13 and Tren de Aragua of El Salvador and Venezuela, respectively. 

Despite the massive crackdown on the illicit activity, the DEA still says that the Sinaloa Cartel remains “one of the most significant threats to public safety, public health and our national security.” 

“The DEA is committed to breaking their command, control and distribution networks,” officials said.  

During the five-day period between Aug. 25 and Aug. 29, DEA agents from 23 different U.S. field divisions and seven foreign regions carried out coordinated enforcement actions that resulted in the arrests of 617 people. A total of 420 firearms were seized – as was $11,111,483 in currency and $1,697,313 in assets. 

Arguably, the most important part of the operation was preventing more than 10,000 kilograms of deadly drugs from getting onto American streets. 

Agents seized: 

• 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder
• 2,209 kilograms of methamphetamine
• 7,469 kilograms of cocaine
• 16.5 kilograms of heroin
• 714,707 counterfeit pills

Brian M. Clark, Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division, referred to the Sinaloa Cartel’s reach as “vast and unremitting,” and the group does still have tens of thousands of members, associates and facilitators producing, manufacturing, distributing and trafficking drugs in at least 40 countries across the globe.

“This ruthless cartel is intent on cashing in, permeating our communities with their poison, with no regard to human suffering, Clark said. “For that reason, the DEA’s work remains critical and laser-focused.”