DEA Launches Initiative Against Fentanyl From The Sinaloa Cartel And CJNG

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on December 3, 2025, the launch of “Fentanyl Free America,” a comprehensive enforcement initiative and public awareness campaign aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for fentanyl, a drug that claimed the lives of nearly 50,000 Americans in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In a statement, the DEA said that on December 1, 2025, it seized more than 45 million fentanyl pills and more than 4,000 kilograms of fentanyl powder, removing approximately 347 million potentially lethal doses from American communities. Intelligence from the agency indicated a shift in cartel operations, with an increase in the trafficking of fentanyl powder and domestic production of pills. The seizure of more than two dozen pill presses in October 2025 underscored this trend.

Through intensified enforcement operations and increased intelligence gathering, the DEA exerted unprecedented pressure on the global fentanyl supply chain, forcing criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to modify their practices. Laboratory tests indicated that 29 percent of the fentanyl pills analyzed during fiscal year 2025 contained a potentially lethal dose, a significant decrease from 76 percent of the pills analyzed in fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the purity of the fentanyl powder decreased to 10.3 percent, down from 19.5 percent during the same period.

“Fentanyl Free America represents the DEA’s unwavering commitment to saving American lives and ending the fentanyl crisis. We are making significant progress in this fight and must continue to intensify efforts to disrupt the fentanyl supply and reduce demand,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, according to an agency statement.

“The DEA is working harder and moving faster to dismantle the foreign terrorists fueling this crisis, while empowering all of our allies to join the fight and prevent fentanyl-related tragedies. Together, we can achieve a fentanyl-free America and create a safer future for generations to come,” Cole added.

Source: Zeta Tijuana