The United States Department of Justice announced the arrest of several members of the Sinaloa Cartel, including one of its leaders, Heriberto Salazar Amaya. Nearly three million fentanyl pills were also seized, the largest quantity ever recorded in the country’s history.
«A historic arrest by the Sinaloa Cartel that marks the most significant victory in our country’s fight against fentanyl and drug trafficking to date.»
Pam Bondi
Ryan Ellison, US Attorney for the District of New Mexico, said the investigation that led to the historic seizure took six months and found a distribution network for the drug between New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
Bondi said the move is part of US President Donald Trump’s fight against fentanyl, a substance that enters the country through Mexico and kills 75,000 Americans a year, according to authorities.