DEA Archived Press Releases

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

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

SAN DIEGO – 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

DEA and partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27

SAN DIEGO – After collecting a total of more than 9.9 million pounds (nearly 5,000 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications during 15 previous events over the past eight years, the Drug Enforcement Administration expects to reach a total of 10 million pounds collected following the upcoming fall...
PRESS RELEASE

Suspected online drug dealer indicted in fentanyl overdose death

SAN DIEGO – Suspected drug dealer Trevon Lucas was indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing fentanyl that caused the death of a La Jolla resident, identified only as C.A.S. in court filings. According to statements made by prosecutors at his detention hearing yesterday, C.A.S. was found dead in...
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

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...