United States Drug Enforcement Administration

On Monday, April 28, 2025, DEA agents in Albuquerque, New Mexico seized more fentanyl pills in one bust than most agents will see in their lifetime. A single drug bust netted a record-breaking 2.7 million fentanyl pills, the largest seizure of deadly fentanyl pills in DEA history. 

In total, 3 million fentanyl pills were seized throughout this case, which spanned five states. 

The Albuquerque District Office sits within DEA’s El Paso Division but is nestled in a quiet undisclosed building in Albuquerque where agents work around the clock making cases. The city of Albuquerque may be best known for its stunning sunsets and annual Balloon Festival, but as evidenced by this case, the city also became a major drug distribution hub. 

“The men and women of DEA El Paso demonstrated the importance of DEA’s mission during this monthslong investigation. By dismantling this major drug trafficking organization, which decided to turn your beautiful community into its home base, we have made the community safer and more secure,” said DEA El Paso Special Agent in Charge Omar Arellano. “You can see for yourself that these guns and drugs, which are now in DEA custody, are no longer a threat.  I also want to be clear about those we arrested; they are dangerous, greedy people who do not care who they kill in the hunt to build their empire.”   

This single seizure of 2.7 million fentanyl pills equates to more than 1.5 million lives potentially saved, which is nearly enough fentanyl to kill the majority of people in the entire state of New Mexico. 

“This historic drug seizure, led by the DEA, is a significant blow against the Sinaloa Cartel that removes poison from our streets and protects American citizens from the scourge of fentanyl,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle every cartel network operating illegally in the United States.”

“Behind the three million fentanyl pills seized are destructive criminal acts thwarted, and American lives saved. This wasn’t just a bust – it was a battlefield victory against a terrorist-backed network pumping death into our cities,” said DEA Principal Deputy Administrator Robert Murphy. “This case represents DEA’s largest single seizure of fentanyl pills to date. I commend the men and women of DEA for their extraordinary work, day in and day out, and I remind the cartels that DEA is relentlessly in pursuit and will not stop until we destroy your networks.”

DEA and its law enforcement partners dismantled one of the largest and most dangerous drug trafficking organizations in U.S. history, arrested 16 people, recovered 49 firearms, seized nearly $5 million, as well as distribution quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. 

Heriberto Salazar-Amaya, 36, isn't just the head of a major drug trafficking ring, he's a key U.S.-based operative for the Sinaloa Cartel and is in the country illegally.  Beyond the mountain of drug charges, Salazar-Amaya faces three immigration-related offenses: illegal reentry after deportation, employing unauthorized aliens, and conspiracy to harbor them.

And this crew didn't live modestly. When DEA took them down, agents seized approximately three million fentanyl pills—along with a fleet of luxury vehicles, including a Ford Raptor, GMC Denali, F-150, Mercedes AMG, and a beastly Dodge TRX Mammoth. They also uncovered more than $50,000 in flashy jewelry—a glimpse into the high-rolling lifestyle built on poison.

“Our communities are safer today because of the tireless dedication and coordination among federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Ryan Elllison. “By dismantling one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl trafficking organizations in U.S. history, we have removed millions of lethal doses from our streets and sent a clear message: those who profit from poisoning our citizens will be held accountable.  The fight continues, but this operation marks a decisive step in protecting families across the western United States.”

The DEA El Paso Division is proud of the collaboration between its federal, state, tribal, and local partners who assisted in this case including the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, DEA’s Rocky Mountain, Phoenix and Seattle Field Divisions, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico. 

Prior to the Albuquerque seizure of 2.7 million fentanyl pills, DEA Phoenix held the record for the largest single fentanyl pill seizure totaling 1.7 million fentanyl pills in 2021.