WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration concluded its inaugural Fentanyl Free America Summit alongside CADCA’s 25th Annual Mid-Year Training Institute with more than 2,500 participants – including leaders in law enforcement, prevention, public health, education, recovery, faith communities, and more than 350 youth – to strengthen the nation’s coordinated...

SAN DIEGO – Ten-time felon Robert Stokes of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years in prison for his latest crimes: Trafficking PCP and methamphetamine and illegally possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon. According to court records, on August 28, 2025, members of the Drug...

San Diego - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is recognizing the ongoing and successful efforts of Sheriff Kelly Martinez and the San Diego County Sheriff's Office in combating the fentanyl crisis. On Monday, July 13, Sheriff Martinez was given the first-ever "Administrator’s Special Recognition Award" by DEA Administrator Terrance...

San Diego– The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Field Division and United Against Fentanyl (UAF) will host a local Walk for Lives 2026 event at Saint Charles Catholic Church, 990 Saturn Blvd. San Diego, CA 92154, on July 11, 2026 in support of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America initiative. Walk...

SAN DIEGO – An indictment unsealed today charges Carlos Paez Pereda, aka “Carlitos,” aka “Carlitos Rugrats,” alleged high-ranking lieutenant and leader of a violent wing of the Sinaloa Cartel called “Los Rugrats,” with Narcoterrorism and Material Support of Terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine...

Washington, D.C - The founder and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ruthia He of Done Global Inc., a California-based digital mental health company, was sentenced today to six years in prison and a fine of $1 million for orchestrating a scheme that used her company’s technology platform, compensation structure, and...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A dual Lebanese-Syrian national was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for narco-terrorism conspiracy and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, to be served concurrently. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Antoine Kassis...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration filed its intent to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitagynine (7-OH) and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Prior to DEA issuing this notice, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed synthetic 7-OH, and the three related...

Washington, D.C. - A Honduras-based Chinese national extradited from Guatemala pleaded guilty today to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, conspiring to launder money derived from drug trafficking, and to providing material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, specifically the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). According...

WASHINGTON – Formal hearing proceedings regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) will begin on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. ET in the North Courtroom at DEA Headquarters located at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Va. The...