NEW MEXICO – During an enforcement operation the last week of April, agents from the DEA Albuquerque District Office seized 2.7 million fentanyl pills in New Mexico’s largest city. The seizure was part of an ongoing, months-long investigation, in which federal authorities also arrested 16 individuals and seized drugs, cash, firearms, and luxury vehicles across multiple states, while also dismantling one of the largest and most dangerous drug trafficking organizations in U.S. history.
“This historic drug seizure, led by the DEA, is a significant blow against the Sinaloa Cartel that removes poison from our streets and protects American citizens from the scourge of fentanyl,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle every cartel network operating illegally in the United States.”
To provide some context, this single seizure of 2.7 million fentanyl pills equates to nearly 1.5 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl taken out of circulation. In total, DEA seized more than three million fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder.
“Behind the three million fentanyl pills we seized are destructive criminal acts thwarted, and American lives saved. This wasn’t just a bust—it was a battlefield victory against a terrorist-backed network pumping death into our cities,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “This case represents DEA’s largest single seizure of fentanyl pills to date. I commend the men and women of DEA for their extraordinary work, day in and day out, and I remind the cartels that DEA is relentlessly in pursuit and will not stop until we destroy your networks.”
As part of the operation, law enforcement executed coordinated search warrants across five states, resulting in the following seizures:
Albuquerque, NM:
- Approximately $610,000 in U.S. currency
- 49 firearms, some with switches, and some ghost guns
- 396 kilograms of fentanyl pills
- 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder
- 1.5 kilograms of cocaine
- 3.5 kilograms of heroin
- 7 pounds of methamphetamine
- A Ford Raptor and GMC Denali Two vehicles valued at approximately $140,000
Salem, OR:
- More than $2.8 million in U.S. currency
- Jewelry valued at approximately $50,000
- A Mercedes AMG and Ford F-150 Shelby valued at approximately $150,000
Layton, UT:
- Approximately $780,000 in U.S. currency
- A Dodge TRX Mammoth valued at approximately $150,000
Phoenix, AZ:
- Approximately $390,000 in U.S. currency
- 72 pounds of methamphetamine
- 13 kilograms of fentanyl pills
- 2.4 pounds of heroin
- 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Las Vegas, NV:
- Illegal alien apprehended and removed
- More than $93,000 in U.S. currency
- 2.7 kilograms of cocaine
- 1 pound of methamphetamine
“The men and women of DEA El Paso demonstrated the importance of DEA’s mission during this months-long investigation. By dismantling this major drug trafficking organization, which decided to turn your beautiful community into its home base, we have made the community safer and more secure,” said DEA El Paso Special Agent in Charge Omar Arellano. “You can see for yourself that these guns and drugs, which are now in DEA custody, are no longer a threat to the community. I also want to be clear about those we arrested — they are dangerous, greedy people who do not care who they kill in the hunt to build their empire.”
Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, is the leader of the drug trafficking organization. He, along with Cesar Acuna-Moreno, 27, Bruce Sedillo, 26, Vincent Montoya, 35, Francisco Garcia, 27, David Anesi, 42, George Navarette-Ramirez, 25, Alex Anthony Martinez, Jose Luis Marquez, Nicholas Tanner, Brian Sanchez, Kaitlyn Young, Alan Singer, and David Altamirano Lopez are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Seven defendants face additional charges of distributing fentanyl: Cesar Acuna-Moreno, Brian Sanchez, Kaitlyn Young, Alan Singer, Bruce Sedillo, Francisco Garcia, and Nicholas Tanner.
Jose Luis Marquez and Bruce Sedillo are each charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Bruce Sedillo is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Heriberto Salazar Amaya faces three additional immigration-related charges: illegal reentry after deportation, hiring an unauthorized alien, and conspiracy to harbor unauthorized aliens.
During the operation, three additional individuals were arrested and charged by criminal complaint:
- Phillip Lovato, 39: On April 29, agents seized approximately 110,000 fentanyl pills from Lovato’s stash house in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lovato is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking.
- Roberta Herrera, 31; On April 28, agents seized approximately 365,000 pills fentanyl pills, 1,543.5 grams of heroin, 569.9 grams of cocaine, and 24 firearms from Herrera’s apartment. Agents also encountered a minor child at the location. Herrera is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Misael Lopez Rubio, 25; on April 28, agents seized approximately 165.5 kilograms of fentanyl pills from a storage unit rented by Lopez Rubio. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew McGinley, Blake Nichols and Raquel Ruiz-Velez for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.