DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
306 Results - Showing 141 to 150
PRESS RELEASE

Three brothers charged in conspiracy to distribute more than 20,000 pills of fentanyl

SAN DIEGO – Jose Atalo Felix-Beltran, Arturo Felix-Beltran (U.S. citizens), and Osvaldo Felix-Beltran (U.S. resident) living in Indio, California, were arraigned in federal court on September 14, 2018 on charges that they conspired to distribute over 20,000 pills of fentanyl, a Schedule II drug. These three defendants are brothers who...
PRESS RELEASE

Cocaine laced with fentanyl leads to multiple deaths, overdoses

SAN DIEGO – The Drug Enforcement Administration joined the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Health and Human Services and the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office today to warn the public about a spate of deaths in beach communities connected to cocaine...
PRESS RELEASE

Postal Annex owner sentenced for structuring currency transactions

SAN DIEGO – Lahkwinder Singh was sentenced in federal court on Sept. 7, 2018, to 36 months in federal prison and a forfeiture of $1,955,521 to the United States for structuring approximately $2,955,521 in currency transactions with domestic financial institutions. The 36-month sentence is one of the longest imposed in...
PRESS RELEASE

Two charged in connection with drug lab explosion

SAN DIEGO – Two defendants, Gregory Amos and Christopher Hernandez, were charged this week in connection with a March 2018 explosion and fire resulting from their operation of a butane hash oil lab in a residential Vista neighborhood. Amos and Hernandez are scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge...
PRESS RELEASE

Two members of the Westside Crips criminal street gang plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy relating to sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and other violent crimes

SAN DIEGO – Two gang members of the Westside Crips pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2018, for their participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and other violent crimes as well as possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. “One of the top priorities...
PRESS RELEASE

Launch of outreach and education campaign to combat cartels using youth to smuggle drugs

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Division of the DEA, along with federal and state law enforcement officials, have launched an outreach campaign in San Diego and Imperial Counties to prevent middle and high school students from acting as drug mules for cartels. Billboards, located in San Diego and Imperial...
PRESS RELEASE

97 in Puerto Rico Charged With Drug Trafficking

San Juan, PR – On June 22, 2018 a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against 97 defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in the municipality of San Juan, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico...
PRESS RELEASE

Lakeside Pharmacy Pays $75,000 for Failing to Keep Accurate Records of Opioids

(SAN DIEGO) - A pharmacy in Lakeside, California and its owners have paid $75,000 to resolve allegations that they failed to properly account for highly addictive and frequently abused opioids, including fentanyl. The settlement is with Archana Corporation and its owners Rajeshbhai Zalavadiya and Ramesh Rakholia. The Archana Corporation, Zalavadiya...
PRESS RELEASE

Methamphetamine Trafficker Who Cut His Ankle Bracelet and Fled to Mexico during Trial Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

(SAN DIEGO) - Drug trafficker Salvador Ojeda-Amarillas, who fled during his 2009 trial and was arrested years later in Mexico, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 13, 2018 for smuggling 66 pounds of pure methamphetamine from Mexico and distributing it throughout San Diego. According to court records...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Brings In Record Number Of Unused Pills During 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

San Diego & Imperial, CA - Americans nationwide did their part to drop off a record number of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications during the DEA’s 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, at close to 6,000 sites across the country - to include 41 locations in San Diego...