DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
30 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson announce launch of Operation Relentless Pursuit

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Attorney General William P. Barr, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico John C. Anderson and DEA El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson announced today the launch of Operation Relentless Pursuit, an initiative aimed at combating violent crime in seven of America’s...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA issues warning over counterfeit prescription pills from Mexico

PHOENIX – The Drug Enforcement Administration is alerting the public of dangerous counterfeit pills killing Americans. Mexican drug cartels are manufacturing mass quantities of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that is lethal in minute doses, for distribution throughout North America. Based on a sampling of tablets...
PRESS RELEASE

Over six tons of prescription drugs and vaping devices collected in DEA Take Back

PHOENIX – The DEA’s Phoenix Division has finished totaling the amount of drugs collected from those agencies who participated in the October 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Arizonans turned out in massive numbers and disposed of 12,371.58 pounds, over six tons, of prescription drugs and vaping products. This...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Arizona announces 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back

PHOENIX – DEA officials in Arizona announce the 18th National Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place October 26th, from 10 am-2 pm local time. Sites will be set up throughout communities statewide so local residents can anonymously return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. New to...
PRESS RELEASE

The DEA deploys “360 Strategy” in Northern Arizona’s Yavapai-Apache Nation to address heroin, prescription drug abuse and violent crime in the area

PHOENIX – The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined with the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Northern Arizona to deploy DEA’s 360 strategy in the tribal nation and surrounding rural area. The DEA 360 program was developed by DEA in 2015 to address the heroin and the opioid drug crisis across the nation...
PRESS RELEASE

Phoenix mother indicted, accused of using 13-year-old daughter to hide cocaine

PHOENIX - The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Phoenix Division and the Arizona Attorney General's Office announced the indictment of Rufina Lopez Covarruvia by a State Grand Jury for allegedly using her 13-year-old daughter to try and hide cocaine from officers during a traffic stop. Covarruvia is charged with multiple felony...
PRESS RELEASE

Final defendant sentenced to federal prison for drug and firearm offenses in connection with the murder of two Midlanders in July 2015

In Midland today, a federal judge sentenced 25-year-old Sean Blake Jobe of Midland, to 30 years in federal prison on firearm and drug trafficking charges in connection with the murder of two Midland residents in July 2015, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman and Drug...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA and Texas DPS conduct joint operation

EL PASO, Texas – Agents and investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division conducted multiple independent investigations over the last year focused on identifying and targeting criminal organizations and individuals suspected of prescription drug fraud or manufacture or delivery of a controlled...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA-led multi-agency investigation dismantles major New Mexico poly-drug trafficking drug trafficking organization

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Twelve individuals are facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges as the result of a two-year DEA-led multi-agency investigation into a major New Mexico-based poly-drug trafficking organization allegedly operating between Las Vegas, N.M., and Albuquerque, N.M., under the alleged leadership of Robert Padilla, 42, of Albuquerque. The...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA targets sentenced to prison following dark web drug trafficking investigation

PHOENIX – Last week, Kevin Dean McCoy, 28, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and launder proceeds from drug distribution. McCoy was the final defendant to receive their sentence following a federal DEA investigation into the dark...