DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
345 Results - Showing 211 to 220
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Omaha Division sees significant increase in methamphetamine seizures

OMAHA, Neb. – The Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division has seen a 31 percent increase in methamphetamine seizures in 2019, reporting approximately 1,437 pounds, estimated at $9 million dollars, collected across the region during the first six months of the year. In 2018, agents from the Omaha Divisions’ five states...
PRESS RELEASE

Chula Vista man sentenced to 10 years for being source of fentanyl that resulted in non-fatal overdoses in Alpine

SAN DIEGO – A Chula Vista man was sentenced today in federal court to 10 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that led to the non-fatal overdoses of five people in Alpine, some of whom were revived by first responders with naloxone. In sentencing Joel Rodriguez of Chula Vista, U.S...
PRESS RELEASE

Trafficker admits smuggling large quantities of deadly fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, including more than 450,000 fentanyl pills

SAN DIEGO – April Spring Kelly admitted in federal court today that she smuggled more than 450,000 fentanyl pills from Mexico into the United States during a nine-month conspiracy from February to October of 2018. According to admissions in her plea agreement, Kelly smuggled the fentanyl pills through ports of...
PRESS RELEASE

Suspected high-level Guatemalan drug trafficker arraigned in San Diego on charges he moved large quantities of cocaine on the high seas

SAN DIEGO – Willian Estuardo Lemus Lara, a suspected high-level cartel boss from Central America, was arraigned in federal court today on maritime cocaine trafficking charges. According to the documents filed in court, Lemus was the manager of the transportation and distribution cell responsible for facilitating multi-ton quantity cocaine loads...
PRESS RELEASE

Sixth hash oil lab dismantled by DEA within three week period

LEMON GROVE, Calif. – Yesterday the United States Drug Enforcement Administration executed a federal search warrant at a warehouse located at 7648 Lemon Avenue, Lemon Grove, Calif., and uncovered a sophisticated hash oil refinery laboratory operation. Large quantities of ethanol were removed from the property by San Diego County HAZMAT...
PRESS RELEASE

Major takedown dismantles multi-state methamphetamine network tied to Sinaloa cartel

SAN DIEGO – Indictments were unsealed today in San Diego federal court charging 43 members of a methamphetamine distribution network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel with federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. During the coordinated takedown that began early this morning, agents executed over a dozen search warrants. Agents...
PRESS RELEASE

NTF dismantles butane hash oil extraction lab 15 times larger than lab that caused recent explosion

WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. – Yesterday the DEA’s Narcotic Task Force executed a state search warrant at 30570 Chihuahua Valley Road, Warner Springs, Calif. Agents uncovered a sophisticated butane hash oil extraction lab inside three trailers on the property. In addition to extracting hash oil, the lab operators were also refining...
PRESS RELEASE

Second hash oil extraction laboratory explosion in San Diego County within two week period

EL CAJON, Calif. – Yesterday, DEA’s Narcotic Task Force (NTF) responded to a hash oil extraction laboratory explosion in the city of El Cajon. This explosion occurred less than two weeks after the significant hash oil extraction laboratory explosion in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, which sent three...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Omaha Division collects 32,713 pounds of unwanted medication at spring Take Back Day event

OMAHA, Neb.,– The United States Drug Enforcement Administration collected nearly 469 tons of unwanted medication at the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event, April 27, with a record-setting 6,398 sites hosted by more than 5,000 law enforcement partners. In Nebraska, 5,661 pounds of potentially dangerous and unwanted drugs...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA’s 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has highest-ever partner participation

SAN DIEGO and IMPERIAL, Calif. – With enthusiastic participation nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners have now collected nearly 12 million pounds of unused or expired prescription medications over the course of 17 successful DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events. During the 17th semiannual event on April 27...