OMAHA, Neb., – Justin C. King was named Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division in January and beginning Feb. 1, he oversees 11 offices within a five-state territory. The third SAC of the Omaha Division, King replaces Richard Salter Jr., who retired from...

ESTHERVILLE, IOWA - An Estherville, Iowa, police officer is being honored by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for his commitment to reducing drug abuse. The recipient of the Enrique S. Camarena Award is Captain Nathaniel Dunlavy...

OMAHA, Neb. – United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Reiko Elio Penunuri, 42, of Arizona, was sentenced January 13 in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. A cellular phone is a “facility” as used...

FARGO, N.D., – On January 7, Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, announced charges against 26 defendants involved in Operation Blue Prairie, a drug pipeline connecting individuals in Detroit, Michigan, to the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold Indian Reservations in North Dakota. Drug Enforcement...

OMAHA, Nebraska – As part of its continuing efforts to reduce drug misuse and overdose, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is launching a winter campaign urging the public to “Secure Your Meds.” The current health crisis has magnified the importance of addressing the issue of prescription-drug misuse. With Americans spending...

OMAHA, Nebraska –The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) collected nearly a million pounds of unused, unwanted and expired medications at the 19 th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event, October 24. The nearly 500 ton total is the largest amount ever collected in the program’s 10 years of operation. The...

OMAHA, Nebraska— The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is kicking off Red Ribbon Week, Friday, October 23, with multiple buildings and bridges across the five state Omaha Division lighting up red to recognize the nation’s oldest and largest drug misuse prevention awareness program. Red Ribbon Week began following the death of...

OMAHA, Neb.— The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is holding its 19 th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, October 24, at multiple locations across the country including more than 200 sites within the five state Omaha Division comprised of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The annual...

NEW ORLEANS – Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea announced the results of Operation Crystal Shield, DEA’s six-month-long effort targeting the command and control elements of Mexican cartels that operate major methamphetamine “transportation hubs” in the United States. At a press...

MINNEAPOLIS – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents from the Minneapolis/St. Paul District Office are reporting a significant increase in counterfeit pills entering Minnesota from drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in California, Arizona and Mexico. In Minnesota, agents have recovered approximately 46,000 counterfeit pills during the first seven months of 2020, nearly...