Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced this week that it had seized 10 million lethal doses of fentanyl from a Sinaloa Cartel cell.
The massive drug bust was part of an operation that began back in March of 2023 code-named “Hotline Bling.”
In conjunction with the Riverside Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service, the DEA seized approximately 376 pounds of methamphetamine, 37.4 pounds of fentanyl, 600,000 fentanyl tablets, about three pounds of cocaine and seven guns.
The drugs confiscated in this seizure have an estimated street value of $16 million, according to a DEA press release.
The amount of fentanyl that was seized could have been used to produce 10 million lethal doses.
The operation and resulted in three federal indictments that charge a total of six defendants and the issuance of 16 state arrest warrants.
15 people have been arrested including a corrupt Riverside County Correctional Deputy who was taken into custody while he was in possession of 104 pounds of fentanyl pills.
“The steadfast collaboration, determination and long hours poured into this operation speak to the vehemence of our investigators and partners. We are committed to keeping dangerous drugs off our streets and are intent on holding all substance laws violators accountable,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division.
“As fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to ravage our communities, we will continue to target drug trafficking organizations that put profit over people’s lives,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The indictment filed by my office alleges that three men shipped kilogram – quantity parcels of narcotics through the United States Postal Service. Those who traffic in dangerous narcotics must be held accountable.”
Assistance in the drug bust was also received from DEA Wilmington District Office, DEA San Diego Field Division Narcotics Task Force, DEA San Jose District Office, and DEA Special Operations Division.