United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) today announced charges against three significant Afghan heroin traffickers, two of which were arrested in Thailand and subsequently brought to the United States. Haji Lajaward, Amal Said Said Alam Shah, a/k/a “Haji Zar Mohammad,” and Habibullah were charged with conspiring to import heroin into...

WASHINGTON - The National Heroin Threat Assessment (NHTA), released today by the United States Drug Enforcement (DEA), shows heroin use and availability on the rise and causing more overdose deaths than at any time in the last decade. Although fewer people presently use heroin than other illicit drugs, the heroin...

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...

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...

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...

New disposal rules now in effect provide for convenient, ongoing disposal opportunities for patients’ unwanted pharmaceuticals; law enforcement agencies may continue to hold take-back events WASHINGTON - On its ninth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on September 27, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and 4,076 of its national, tribal, and community...

WASHINGTON - DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart today issued this statement following the capture of Hector Beltran-Leyva: "One of the world's biggest drug empires continues to crumble with the capture of Hector Beltran-Leyva in Mexico. Much of the violence and lawlessness that has plagued Mexico can be traced to this...

WASHINGTON - This Saturday, September 27, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and almost 4,000 of its national, tribal, and community law enforcement partners will hold the ninth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Americans can take their expired, unneeded, or unwanted prescription drugs to one of over 5,200 collection sites across the...