Pam Bondi Announces Largest U.S. Fentanyl Bust With 16 Sinaloa Cartel Arrests Across Five States, $5 Million Seized

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the largest fentanyl bust in the nation's history on May 6, 2025, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The coordinated operation spanned five states including New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Oregon, resulting in the arrest of 16 members of the Sinaloa drug cartel, including one of its leaders, Heriberto Salazar Amaya. Authorities seized approximately 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder and three million fentanyl-laced pills labeled as oxycodone. The bust also recovered 396 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, 7 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 50 firearms including some with switches and ghost guns, over $5 million in cash, vehicles, and jewelry valued at around $640,000. The fentanyl seized had the potential to kill over 5.75 million people, roughly twice the population of Miami-Dade County. The operation disrupted a multi-state drug trafficking network run by the Sinaloa cartel with distribution hubs in cities such as Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Layton. The bust was hailed by federal officials and lawmakers as a major victory against the opioid crisis and organized crime, with acknowledgments of support from President Donald Trump. The operation was described as historic and one of the largest coordinated efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat fentanyl trafficking in the U.S.