DEA Archived Press Releases

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

DEA Washington Division Calls on the Community to Have Important Conversations on Dangers of Drugs and Fake Pills in Back-To-School Routines

Washington, DC – As schools in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia open their doors to students and teachers this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division is urging the community to have important conversations about the consequences of drug experimentation and misuse as the new school year...
PRESS RELEASE

Maryland U.S. Attorney Recognizes the Contributions of Law Enforcement Partners to Reduce Violent Crime in 2023

Baltimore, Maryland – At a press conference earlier today, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, thanked federal, state and local law enforcement partners in the fight against violent crime in Maryland. The teamwork, community-based partnerships, and strategic law enforcement initiatives helped make a difference in reducing homicides in Baltimore in 2023...
PRESS RELEASE

Indictment Charges Eight Men in an Interstate Fentanyl and Cocaine Conspiracy

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A 19-count indictment charges eight men from the metropolitan Washington D.C. area with participating in an interstate fentanyl and cocaine conspiracy believed responsible for distributing multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics in the region. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, DEA Special Agent in Charge...
PRESS RELEASE

19 Arrested on Federal Charges Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in Charlottesville, VA

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville, Virginia has indicted 17 individuals as part of a large-scale drug conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region. The 37-count indictment, returned under seal August 29, 2023, partially unsealed...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Launches First Year of Operation Engage in Richmond, VA

Richmond, Va., – Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Washington Division announces the launch of Operation Engage in Richmond, Virginia. Operation Engage is comprehensive, community-level initiative, implemented to target and address the drug and related violence issues in cities with high levels of drug related problems. Operation Engage is new...
PRESS RELEASE

La DEA Inicia el Primer Año de la Operación Engage en Richmond, VA

Richmond, Virginia – Hoy, la División de Washington de la Administración para el Control de Drogas (DEA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció el inicio de la Operación Engage en Richmond, Virginia. La cual es una iniciativa integral a nivel comunitario implementada para combatir y abordar los problemas asociados a...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA & MPD Issue Public Safety Alert on Mass Overdose Events Across D.C. Metro Area

Washington, D.C., -- Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division & the Metropolitan Police Department issued a Public Safety Alert warning residents in the D.C. metropolitan area of the alarming increase in fentanyl-related mass overdose events across the city. The Public Safety Alert seeks to raise public awareness of...
PRESS RELEASE

Alexandria Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for conspiracy, possession, and distribution of fentanyl and Eutylone, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during drug trafficking. According to court documents, from in or around June 2020, through at least December 2020...
PRESS RELEASE

25th Operation High Tide Defendant Sentenced for Drug and Gun Crimes

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man, who was the 25th defendant associated with Operation High Tide, was sentenced today for his role in trafficking firearms and selling heroin. According to court documents, in 2017, Shon E. Melton, 32, of Portsmouth, was attributed with trafficking 19 firearms, including a concealable short...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Issues Public Safety Alert on Sharp Increase in Fake Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl and Meth

CHICAGO – Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. DEA’s Public Safety Alert, the first in six years, seeks to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge...