SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, led by United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, alongside federal, state, and local partners assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), announced significant...

MIAMI – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Caribbean Division reaffirmed its strong partnership with the Dominican Republic during a high-level strategic meeting held at DEA’s Miami Field Division headquarters, underscoring the continued commitment between U.S. and Dominican authorities to combat transnational criminal organizations operating throughout the Caribbean region. The meeting brought...

PONCE, Puerto Rico — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division, in coordination with Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) partners, announced the seizure of approximately 1,418 pounds (643.3 kilograms) of cocaine and the arrest of three Venezuelan nationals following a maritime interdiction operation conducted southeast of Puerto Rico. This interdiction...

San Juan, Puerto Rico — On April 17, 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division, in close coordination with its international and interagency partners, supported a significant narcotics interdiction operation conducted by the Dirección Nacional de Control de Drogas (DNCD) that resulted in the seizure of 1,707 kilograms (1.7...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division announced the successful extradition of Nixon Manuel Marino-Carreño from Colombia to Puerto Rico, where he will face federal drug trafficking charges in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Marino-Carreño was arrested in Colombia...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 17, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 52 gang members from the municipalities of San Juan, Morovis, and Cataño with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – An illegal alien who shot at Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents attempting to arrest him during a fentanyl sale on Feb. 24, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted murder. Eduardo Valenzuela Lopez, 33, of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, has been charged with Attempted...

Phoenix, ARIZ – On March 26, 2026, Ismael Alejandro Ortiz was sentenced to five years in prison by the Pima County Superior Court. On July 29, 2025, in Pima County, Arizona, Ortiz attempted to knowingly transport approximately 12.9 pounds of cocaine for sale, using a mobile barbershop bus as cover...

San Diego – Marking a powerful start to 2026, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking networks during Phase II of Operation Fentanyl Free America. Between January 12 and February 10, 2026, DEA seized more than 4.7 million fentanyl pills and nearly 2,396 pounds of...

PHOENIX, Ariz — DEA Special Agent in Charge Apolonio Ruiz Jr. joined Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and HIDTA Director Dawn Mertz to announce the results of a major multi-agency drug operation targeting criminal organizations operating in Arizona communities. “This extraordinary investigation saved countless lives,”...