DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Omaha Division Special Agent Carlos Lavastida awarded Enrique S. Camarena Award

OMAHA, Neb. – DEA Special Agent Carlos Lavastida is one of three law enforcement officers from Iowa presented with the Enrique S. Camarena Award by the DEA and United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Lavastida, Lieutenant Brad Bollinger of the Sioux City Police Department...
PRESS RELEASE

Wisconsin heroin distributor sentenced to federal prison

OMAHA, Neb., – Jovan Marquis Harris of Milwaukee was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on each of four counts related to distributing heroin resulting in death or serious bodily injury and 20 years on two final counts as determined by U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett, Northern District...
PRESS RELEASE

Minneapolis Tactical Diversion Squad talks opioids to Special Investigative Units

OMAHA, Neb. –Two members of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Minneapolis District Office spoke with the Minnesota chapter of the International Association of Special Investigative Units last November in Eagan, Minn., on the deadliness of opioids in America and how the DEA is addressing the epidemic at the local...
PRESS RELEASE

Methamphetamine seizures rise in DEA's Omaha Division

OMAHA, Neb., – As the nation recognizes National Methamphetamine Awareness Day today, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Omaha Division announces that it has seen a three percent increase in methamphetamine seizures in one year. The division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, registered 817 pounds of seized...
PRESS RELEASE

Eighteen members and associates of Selma street gang charged in Mobile federal court with narcotics and firearms offenses

MOBILE, Ala. – A twenty-three count indictment charging 18 members and associates of a Selma-based street gang known as the “MLK Gang” with narcotics conspiracy and firearms offenses was unsealed yesterday, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam and United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of...
PRESS RELEASE

Baton Rouge man indicted for international money laundering in furtherance of an international drug conspiracy and other related charges

BATON ROUGE, La. – A federal grand jury recently returned a five-count indictment charging Donovan J. Barker, age 59, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with aiding and abetting a conspiracy to distribute tramadol and carisoprodol, international money laundering, unlawful money transmitting, and possession of tramadol. On Oct. 25, 2018, Barker made...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA achieves significant milestone during 16th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

NEW ORLEANS – With the robust participation of Americans nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners have now surpassed its 10 million pound goal and collected nearly 11 million pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications over the course of 16 successful DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events...
PRESS RELEASE

Montgomery Nurse Practitioner convicted of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, health care fraud, and conspiracy

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, a federal jury convicted nurse practitioner Lilian Ifeoma Akwuba, 39, of Montgomery, Alabama, on 17 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances, 4 counts of health care fraud, 1 count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and 1 count of conspiring to commit...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug source sentenced to more than 12 years for interstate narcotics conspiracy

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Jessie Acosta, 41, of San Pedro, California, was sentenced to more than 12 years (150 months) in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout the Middle District of Alabama and Georgia, announced U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA celebrates Red Ribbon Week with special guest Mika Camarena

NEW ORLEANS – The Drug Enforcement Administration invites the community to take a visible stand against drugs by celebrating Red Ribbon Week from October 23-31. Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs facing our community, and encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other...