DEA Archived Press Releases

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

DEA Operation Last Mile Tracks Down Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartel Associates Operating within the United States

SAN DIEGO – Today, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a year-long national operation, “Operation Last Mile,” targeting operatives, associates, and distributors affiliated with the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels responsible for the last mile of fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution on our streets and on social media. DEA’s...
PRESS RELEASE

Four of Chapo’s Sons Indicted for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering and Violent Crimes as Alleged Leaders of Sinaloa Cartel

SAN DIEGO – Four sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the imprisoned former Sinaloa Cartel leader known as El Chapo, were indicted by a federal grand jury for large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering and violent crimes in connection with their assumption of cartel leadership following their father’s arrest and extradition to...
PRESS RELEASE

Ocean Beach Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for His Role in Fatal Overdose

SAN DIEGO - Alexander Michael Randise of Ocean Beach was sentenced today in federal court to 188 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of 30-year-old Tyber Joseph Lustig. According to his plea agreement, Randise admitted providing four counterfeit M-30 pills laced with fentanyl...
PRESS RELEASE

Flight Attendant Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute

SAN DIEGO - Terese L. White, a flight attendant residing in Dallas, Texas, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a drug-trafficking charge, admitting that she used her privileges as a flight attendant to bypass the more robust security screening process at San Diego International Airport in order to smuggle...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Medicare, Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl

SAN DIEGO - Dr. David J. Smith, a pain management physician, and his office manager, Julia Ann Oertle, are charged in a federal grand-jury indictment with perpetuating a long-running scheme to commit healthcare fraud and to manufacture and distribute adulterated fentanyl. Smith made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate...
PRESS RELEASE

Thirteen Defendants Charged in Imperial Valley Takedown of Drug Trafficking Network

SAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging 10 alleged members of an Imperial Valley-based methamphetamine distribution network with drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. In addition, three more related defendants were charged today via complaint with drug trafficking offenses. In a coordinated multi-state takedown that...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Launches New Initiative to Combat Drug-Related Violence and Overdoses in Communities Across America

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a new initiative, Operation Overdrive, aimed at combatting the rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plaguing American communities. Last fall, DEA initiated a data-driven approach using national crime statistics and CDC data to identify hot spots of drug-related violence and...
PRESS RELEASE

Statement from DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on Cheun Fat Yip

WASHINGTON – "Today’s designation of Chuen Fat Yip under the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program marks the culmination of several years of law enforcement and prosecution efforts against one of the most prolific alleged distributors of illicit and dangerous drugs and precursor chemicals operating in China...
PRESS RELEASE

Two MS-13 Leaders Convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiring to Commit Multiple Murders

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, a federal jury in Maryland convicted two El Salvadorian nationals for conspiring to participate in La Mara Salvatrucha, a transnational criminal enterprise, commonly known as MS-13. Junior Noe Alvarado-Requeno, aka Insolente, aka Trankilo, 25, and Miguel Angel Corea Diaz, aka Reaper, 39, were convicted of multiple...
PRESS RELEASE

MS-13 Honduras Leader and Drug Supplier Charged

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John J. Durham, Director of Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), Anne Milgram, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Jay Greenberg, Acting Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division of the Federal Bureau of...