United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON - DEA Special Agent Joseph Piersante today became the first-ever member of DEA to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom - . Piersante was struck by enemy gun fire while on a counter-terrorism and narcotics mission in Afghanistan in 2011. The Defense of Freedom...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge Carol K.O. Lee of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Twelve individuals are facing drug trafficking and money laundering charges as the result of a multi-agency investigation targeting marijuana traffickers and money launderers operating in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. The investigation culminated this morning when ten of the defendants were arrested during an early morning...

WASHINGTON - The United States Drug Enforcement (DEA) today issued a nationwide alert about the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues/compounds. Fentanyl is commonly laced in heroin, causing significant problems across the country, particularly as heroin abuse has increased. This alert was issued through the multi-agency El Paso Intelligence (EPIC)...

WASHINGTON - DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart today issued the following statement on the arrest in Mexico of Zetas leader Omar Trevino Morales: "The Drug Enforcement Administration proudly congratulates the Government of Mexico and their leadership in the arrest of Omar Trevino Morales, head of the Zetas cartel. The Zetas...

WASHINGTON - DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart today issued the following statement in response to the capture of Knights Templar Cartel Leader Servando Gomez-Martinez, a.k.a. “La Tuta” by the Mexican Federal Police: "The arrest of Servando Gomez-Martinez, a.k.a. "La Tuta," is another win for Mexico in the fight against brutal...

MIDLAND, Texas - - In Midland and Odessa this morning, authorities arrested 23 individuals on federal drug and firearms charges announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, El Paso Division, and Midland Police Chief Price Robinson. Federal grand jury...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA participated in the New Mexico Pharmacists Association’s Mid-Winter Meeting held this weekend in Albuquerque, N.M., for the purpose of educating the Association’s membership about how prescription drug trafficking and abuse contributes to New Mexico’s heroin and opioid epidemic...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Field Division announced that Miguel Bustamante-Conchas, 39, was sentenced late yesterday afternoon to 20 years in federal prison for his heroin trafficking conviction. He also was ordered to pay...

WASHINGTON - DEA Deputy Administrator Thomas Harrigan and Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York today announced that Michael Filter was extradited from Estonia where he had been arrested for conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and conspiracy to distribute cocaine on...