The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized millions of fentanyl pills as part of the “One Pill Can Kill” initiative, an enforcement operation that spanned from May to September.
During the enforcement operation period, 390 cases were investigated. Out of these cases, 35 had direct links to either the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) or the Sinaloa Cartel—the two primary criminal organizations from Mexico responsible for the majority of fentanyl in the United States.
“The Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG are ruthless, criminal organizations that use deception and treachery to drive addiction with complete disregard for human life,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.
“To save American lives, the DEA is relentlessly focused on defeating the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG by degrading their operations to make it impossible for them to do business.” The “One Pill Can Kill” initiative was launched by the DEA in September 2021.
Curbing Fentanyl Distribution From China, Mexico
In July, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody called on President Joe Biden to designate fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). In September, 18 attorneys general, both Republicans and Democrats, wrote a letter to Biden requesting the classification.At a press conference, Abbott justified the move by pointing out that Texans are victimized due to the cartels producing and importing fentanyl.
“He said, ‘We’re just selling legal products.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, but those legal products combined are making fentanyl, and you’re doing nothing to make sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands,” Wenstrup said.
A former Fort Hood Army Sergeant was recently sentenced to 72 months in prison for distributing fentanyl, and on Sept. 27, a man from Midland, Texas, was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for possessing illegal fentanyl and firearms.