In a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General under Donald Trump, announced a historic seizure of 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl along with three million pills of the synthetic opioid. During a press conference, Bondi declared this operation the largest drug confiscation in U.S. history, outlining the extensive six-month operation led by federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Heriberto Salazar Amaya, an alleged member of the cartel who had been previously deported twice and was operating out of Salem, Oregon. Authorities emphasized the importance of such actions, citing the opioid crisis that claims around 75,000 American lives annually. Bondi assured that more seizures and arrests are on the horizon as part of the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
The DEA agents invested over 55,000 hours monitoring the narcotics from Mexico, ensuring to track their journey into the U.S., including states like Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. Rob Murphy, acting head of the DEA, expressed confidence in their thorough infiltration of the criminal organization and the identification of cartel members operating in Mexico.
In addition to the seized fentanyl, authorities confiscated 35 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, and 49 firearms during the operation. Bondi highlighted that all 16 arrested individuals were undocumented migrants, pointing to the broader implications of fentanyl trafficking that have affected U.S. relations with Mexico and Canada as well.
The seized fentanyl was primarily found as a highly concentrated powder, with a significant portion of pills posing as oxycodone, which is frequently abused in the U.S. The alarming potential of these drugs was underscored by the DEA, noting that the amount taken off the streets could be enough to endanger an untold number of lives.
Bondi has actively supported the government’s drug combat initiatives, visiting a lab in Washington aimed at understanding the evolving fentanyl trafficking. Recent statements by Bondi related to the quantities of fentanyl seized were scrutinized for their accuracy, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to addressing the epidemic, insisting that there is no tolerance for those contributing to such devastation.
Overall, Bondi’s announcement marks a significant achievement in the ongoing battle against the opioid crisis and underscores the persistent threat that drug trafficking poses to public health in the United States.