BREAKING: U.S. drug enforcement agents have seized over $10 million in cryptocurrency linked to the notorious Sinaloa cartel during a series of nationwide drug raids. This urgent operation, confirmed by the Justice Department, also recovered staggering quantities of illegal drugs, including 44 million fentanyl pills and 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder since January 2023.
The seizure, which took place in Miami, is part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking organizations identified by President Trump as global “terrorist” entities. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in collaboration with the FBI, described this operation as a significant blow to cartel finances.
Authorities revealed that the cryptocurrency haul comes just days after Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a son of infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Chicago court. This plea deal could lead to a reduced sentence for Guzman Lopez, further entwining the Guzman family in ongoing legal battles tied to the cartel.
“DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts — with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure,”
stated DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. This latest operation signifies a relentless effort to disrupt the operations of the Sinaloa cartel, known for its brutal tactics and extensive drug trafficking networks.
In addition to the cryptocurrency seizure, authorities reported a series of significant drug finds across the country. In Galveston, Texas, agents uncovered over 1,700 pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $15 million hidden within a vehicle. Other operations in Georgia revealed 705 pounds of meth concealed in cucumbers, while a refrigerated truck in Texas was found containing 783 pounds of meth hidden among blueberries.
The Sinaloa cartel’s ruthless reputation was underscored by recent violent incidents, including the discovery of twenty bodies—some decapitated—found on a highway bridge in Mexico, indicating ongoing internal conflicts within the cartel.
This operation reflects a growing trend in U.S. law enforcement’s strategy to target not only the physical drug trade but also the financial networks that sustain these criminal organizations. The DEA and other agencies are expected to continue their aggressive stance against the Sinaloa cartel and its affiliates, making this a critical moment in the fight against drug trafficking.
What’s next? Officials are monitoring the situation closely as further developments are anticipated in the ongoing crackdown on the Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican drug trafficking organizations.
