Nationwide DEA Sweep Leads to 617 Arrests Across 23 U.S. Divisions in Under One Week

A sweeping law enforcement campaign against the notorious Sinaloa Cartel has led to more than 600 arrests nationwide, according to federal officials. Authorities said the crackdown, which unfolded over the course of a week, was one of the most extensive operations targeting the cartel, a global powerhouse in the drug trade. In New England alone, 171 individuals were taken into custody, reports Fox News.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed Monday that from Aug. 25–29, agents made 617 arrests connected to the cartel across 23 U.S. field divisions. The surge effort also resulted in major seizures of drugs, weapons, and cash.

Items confiscated included 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 2,209 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7,469 kilograms of cocaine, 16.5 kilograms of heroin, more than 714,000 fake pills, 420 firearms, and $11 million in cash.

“These results demonstrate the full weight of DEA’s commitment to protecting the American people,” DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said in a statement. “Every kilogram of poison seized, every dollar stripped from the cartels, and every arrest we make represents lives saved and communities defended. DEA will not relent until the Sinaloa Cartel is dismantled from top to bottom.”

In New England, authorities reported seizing 244 kilograms of drugs, 22,115 counterfeit pills, $1.3 million in cash, and 33 firearms along with the 171 arrests. The breakdown included 64 arrests in Connecticut, 49 in Massachusetts, 33 in New Hampshire, 11 in Maine, 10 in Rhode Island, and three in Vermont.

“They’re our public enemy number one in New England,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division.
One of the largest coordinated sweeps in the region happened on Aug. 27 in Franklin, New Hampshire. After a three-month probe, 27 suspects were arrested for allegedly funneling fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Officials emphasized that the cartel’s influence is not limited to large cities. “This shows that the Sinaloa Cartel’s tentacles spread far and deep; no community is spared,” said Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Division, which oversees Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.