WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will recognize National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on Thursday, August 21, joining the hundreds of thousands of voices raising awareness to confront the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history. The DEA Museum will extend its operating hours this coming Thursday from 6...

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration announces a major new initiative to strengthen collaboration between the United States and Mexico in the fight against cartels, whose trafficking networks are responsible for flooding American communities with deadly synthetic drugs. At the core of this effort is Project Portero, DEA’s flagship operation...

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury convicted an Albuquerque man for his role in a multi-state fentanyl trafficking organization, following an operation that resulted in the largest single fentanyl pill seizure in DEA history. The verdict came after a six-day trial and approximately eight hours of deliberation. The conviction of Alex...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and M. Scott Proctor, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, announced that Brock E. Russell, 45, of Fort Wayne, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady...

CHICAGO – Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance C. Cole has appointed DEA Chicago Field Division Deputy Special Agent in Charge Shane R. Catone as the new Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. As the Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division, Catone maintains direct...

WASHINGTON – The men and women of DEA will join local law enforcement agencies and community groups across the country on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 to participate in National Night Out events. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes neighborhood camaraderie by strengthening partnerships between police and...

WASHINGTON – Just days into his new role, DEA Administrator Terrance Cole met with a law enforcement delegation from Italy, signifying the agency’s renewed focus on working with foreign law enforcement to meet the evolving threats of the global drug crisis. On July 24, DEA Administrator Cole, DEA Deputy Chief...

WASHINGTON – Terrance C. “Terry” Cole was sworn in as DEA Administrator on July 23, 2025, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Cole is a distinguished public servant who has spent more than 31 years in law enforcement, 22 of which were at DEA fighting the drug cartels...

BROOKLYN, NY – José Adolfo Macías Villamar, aka "Fito,” a citizen of Ecuador, was arraigned in federal court in the Eastern District of New York on Monday for crimes allegedly committed as the leader of the Los Choneros Transnational Criminal Organization. Based in Ecuador, Los Choneros is believed to be...

INDIANAPOLIS — Daniel Schmidt, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Indianapolis, and Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress for the Southern District of Indiana announced that Stacy Lamont Griffin, 33, Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised...