WASHINGTON – Forty years after the death of DEA Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration continues to honor his legacy by supporting the nation’s largest drug prevention initiative—the Red Ribbon Campaign—throughout the month of October. “The ultimate sacrifice made by Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena inspires...

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...

Tampa, Fla. – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Vicente Lopez Mero (67, Ecuador) to 19 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Lopez Mero pleaded guilty on...

LOS ANGELES – A commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) foreign terrorist organization and his associate have been charged in a six-count superseding indictment alleging they are senior members of a large cocaine-manufacturing ring that trades cocaine to buy firearms to engage in terrorist...

LONDON, Ky. – A Lebanese and Italian national, Alessandro Sabbagh, 27, was sentenced on Friday, April 11, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 78 months in prison, for conspiracy to sell counterfeit drugs and knowingly causing the sale of a counterfeit drug. According to his plea agreement, between...

EL PASO, Texas – A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was extradited from Mexico to El Paso, indicted for criminal charges related to his alleged federal racketeering, narcotics, money laundering, firearms, and continuing criminal enterprise offenses. According to court documents, Daniel Franco Lopez aka “Micha” aka “Neon” aka “Fer,”...

WHEN: Thursday October 24 at 10 a.m. MST. WHERE: Federal Justice Building, DEA Training Room Second Floor, 660 S. Mesa Hills Dr., El Paso TX 79912 WHAT: DEA Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James will discuss why the star on the mountain will shine red October 23-31. WHO: DEA...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- National Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s longest-running drug prevention program, kicks off today, Wednesday, October 23rd. To mark the occasion, Louisville’s Big Four Bridge will be illuminated in red lights this evening. “The Drug Enforcement Administration would like to thank the Waterfront Development Corporation for helping us...

OMAHA, Neb. – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division will join with millions of Americans October 23, to kick off Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug misuse prevention awareness program. Over the course of nine days, members of DEA will provide drug education presentations to communities...

LOS ANGELES – A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder and 15 other defendants have been charged in a 16-count superseding indictment for allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other...