PHOENIX - As U.S. overdose deaths reach a devastating new height, claiming a new victim every five minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration has revealed a direct link between fentanyl-related overdose deaths and criminal drug networks in Mexico. These groups are harnessing social media platforms to bring drugs laced with fentanyl...

LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles man was arrested late Monday night on a federal grand jury indictment alleging he provided fentanyl-laced pills to a 15-year-old who died on July 8, 2021 after taking the pills. Johnny Castillo, 18, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon...

PHOENIX - On December 9th, 2021, the DEA Phoenix Field Division Task Force and the Goodyear Police Department arrested Brian Meza-Raya, 18, of Phoenix, Arizona, who is facing multiple felony charges related to alleged drug distribution. Law enforcement served a search warrant on December 9th, at a residence in Phoenix...

PHOENIX - On October 2, 2021, thirteen Yavapai County community members proudly graduated from the Phoenix Field Division's (PFD) first ever DEA Citizen's Academy. The community-based training program provided civilians from the local community with a first-hand understanding of the critical mission and work conducted every day by the men...

LOS ANGELES —Today, law enforcement investigators served nine arrest warrants in multiple locations throughout Los Angeles and Riverside Counties. In March of 2020, the DEA launched Operation Crystal Shield to focus efforts on main U.S. methamphetamine trafficking transportation hubs. DEA identified eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs where Operation Crystal Shield...

LOS ANGELES —The culmination of a three-month investigation resulted in a Santa Barbara methamphetamine distributor being sentenced on November 8, 2021 to 180 months in federal prison for narcotics violations. Cesar Castillo-Pena, 35, of San Bernardino, California, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner. On July 28...

LOS ANGELES – An Arizona man has agreed to plead guilty to a federal criminal charge for supplying counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl to the drug dealer accused of selling them to rapper Mac Miller, who soon afterward suffered a fatal overdose, the Justice Department announced today. Ryan Michael Reavis...

PHOENIX – The DEA Phoenix Field Division, along with our law enforcement and community partners collected 9,032 pounds of unneeded prescription medications throughout the State of Arizona, as part of DEA’s on-going commitment to turn the tide against the U.S. opioid epidemic. Nationwide, close to 745,000 pounds of unneeded prescriptions...

PHOENIX - The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 21st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. Last April, residents of Arizona turned...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A public funeral for Drug Enforcement Administration Supervisory Special Agent Michael G. Garbo will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021, at Calvary Chapel in Tucson. Special Agent Garbo died Monday as a result of injuries sustained during a shooting in downtown Tucson. Friday’s service will honor...