DEA Confirms Presence of Sinaloa Cartel in 23 U.S. States

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed this week that the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organizations, has entrenched itself in at least 23 states across the country. The revelation follows a nationwide enforcement action that resulted in more than 600 arrests and massive drug seizures.

Between August 25 and August 29, 2025, federal agents carried out what officials called an "unprecedented surge" targeting cartel operatives, distributors, and facilitators across the United States and abroad. The effort spanned 23 DEA field divisions and seven foreign regions.

The crackdown produced staggering results. Authorities reported 617 people were taken into custody on federal and state charges. During the operation, agents seized 480 kilograms (1,058 pounds) of fentanyl powder and more than 714,000 counterfeit pills. They also recovered 2,209 kilograms (4,870 pounds) of methamphetamine, 7,469 kilograms (16,463 pounds) of cocaine, and 16.5 kilograms (36 pounds) of heroin. In addition, 420 firearms were confiscated along with more than 11 million dollars in cash.

"These numbers tell the story of a criminal organization flooding our communities with poison," DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said in a statement. "Every kilo seized, every dollar taken, and every arrest made represents lives saved and communities protected. We will not stop until the Sinaloa cartel is dismantled."

The sweep revealed that the cartel's influence is not confined to border states or major metropolitan areas. In New England, agents arrested 171 suspects and seized 244 kilograms of drugs, more than 22,000 counterfeit pills, 1.3 million dollars in cash, and 33 firearms.

One of the most striking cases took place in Franklin, New Hampshire, where 27 people were arrested after a three-month investigation tied methamphetamine and fentanyl shipments to Lawrence, Massachusetts, a longstanding distribution hub for Mexican traffickers. Jim Scott, the special agent in charge of the DEA's Louisville Division, warned that the Sinaloa cartel's "tentacles reach deep, regardless of community size."

Beyond drug seizures, federal authorities have also been targeting the supply chain itself. Just days before the cartel takedown, agents in Pasadena, California, intercepted 1,300 barrels of meth precursor chemicals bound for Mexico from China. The amount was enough to produce 420,000 pounds of methamphetamine, with a potential street value exceeding $569 million.

The DEA had already warned in its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment that the Sinaloa cartel had adopted what it called a "franchise model" in the United States. This structure allows local groups to operate with autonomy while maintaining links to senior leadership in Mexico.

This national crackdown comes in the context of a broader strategy to combat the fentanyl epidemic. Earlier this year, the U.S. government formally designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.