Drug Enforcement Administration Archives

3 arrested in connection to former ‘One Direction’ singer Liam Payne’s death

November 8, 2024

Authorities in Argentina have arrested three people in connection with the death of former “One Direction” singer Liam Payne. In a press release, Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office said authorities arrested an employee at the hotel where Payne fell to his death last month, an alleged drug dealer, and a person who “accompanied the artist daily during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires.”

Officials said at least four supplies of narcotics were “conclusively proven” to have been addressed to Payne during his stay at the Casa Sur hotel between Oct. 13 and 16. Payne fell from a third-floor balcony of the hotel on Oct. 16.

Thursday’s report revealed that in the 72 hours before he died, Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription anti-depressant in his system.

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The hotel employee and alleged dealer are both charged with providing narcotics while the third person is charged with providing narcotics and abandonment of a person followed by death.

Payne, along with Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, formed the popular boy band “One Direction” on a reality competition show in 2010 before the group announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Before his death, Payne posted to Snapchat that he was in Buenos Aires to attend a concert by Horan.

FDA, DEA struggle to take down rogue pharmacy websites

October 28, 2024

The FDA has issued a warning about the growing presence of fake online pharmacies selling drugs like oxycodone and Xanax through Google, exploiting search engine loopholes to mimic legitimate pharmacies. These rogue sites are targeting consumers with illegal drugs, often without requiring prescriptions, raising concerns about safety and abuse.

Kubapharm.com, one such site flagged by the FDA in 2022, continues to operate today. The website allows customers to buy fentanyl-laced pills without prescription verification.

Google announced it will block all election advertisements after the last polls close on election day. I — Getty Images

A recent video by The Washington Examiner demonstrated the ease of finding such dangerous sites through Google search results.

The video showed one person searching the internet for cocaine by looking up “buy cocaine.” The search showed a misleading .gov site for disaster assistance. However, that site had a link to another website that had contact information for a drug dealer.

Google’s algorithms block over 40 billion spam pages daily. However, an update in 2022 made it easier for malicious sites to create fake pages within reputable government domains. The tech company advises organizations to block internal search pages from appearing in results, yet loopholes allow some fake pharmacies to slip through.

Experts warn these trends put consumers at serious risk, potentially leading them to bypass traditional pharmacies entirely. Officials urge anyone seeking medication online to verify sites carefully, consult with a doctor and only buy from reputable, certified pharmacies.

How a DC pizza chain got tossed into controversy over a dessert advertisement

October 25, 2024

Washington D.C.-based restaurant chain &Pizza’s owner apologized for and removed a controversial dessert on Wednesday, Oct. 23, that referenced the late Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. The apology came after protests outside the store and social media backlash from critics who claim it tarnished Barry’s legacy.

Some community activists, like Ronald Molten, even urged people to boycott the restaurant earlier this week.

The owner of &Pizza, Mike Burns, apologized for the pizza joint’s advertisement for a new dessert called “Marion Berry Knots.”

&Pizza advertised the menu item on Monday, Oct. 21, using what appeared to be several drug references such as “These knots will blow you away,” and “Our classic knots got a bump,” as well as imagery of powdered sugar on glass mirrors.

The advertisement seemed to reference Barry’s 1990 drug arrest. The sting was videotaped by the FBI, and Barry famously accused his ex-girlfriend of setting him up.

The former four-term mayor and civil rights leader was convicted of crack cocaine possession and sentenced to six months in prison.

Burns released a statement about the dessert advertisement, saying, “Candidly, we made a mistake. And for that, we sincerely apologize. We hear the D.C. community and have removed Marion Berry Knots from our menu effective immediately.”

Burns also said that he was reaching out to community activists who have expressed anger over the dessert’s advertisement. Adding, “We have read the countless messages and social media posts and understand the frustration this has brought forth, especially to the Barry family. We recognize his impact on the district and greater capital area and understand why his legacy remains as strong as it is today.”

It’s yet to be seen if Burns’ letter will lead activists to change of heart on planned protests on Friday, Oct. 25.

Former Olympian is accused of running ‘ruthless’ drug smuggling operation

October 18, 2024

The U.S Department of Justice announced a federal indictment of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding on Thursday, Oct. 17, which accuses him of running a billion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation and ordering the murders of several people.

“Instead of using his privileges that come with being an Olympic athlete to do good for people, he did the opposite,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California, said. “He chose to become a major drug trafficker, and he chose to become a killer.”

Federal authorities said the 43-year-old Wedding’s transnational drug trafficking organization, backed by Mexican cartels, smuggled tons of cocaine across the U.S. and Canadian borders for more than a decade, using hitmen to kill people who got in their way.

“These individuals ran what we call the Wedding criminal enterprise,” Estrada said. “This criminal enterprise was extremely prolific and ruthless. By prolific, they moved massive amounts of cocaine. They were one of the largest suppliers of cocaine to Canada and the United States. They move an average of 60 tons of cocaine per year. By ruthless, they were killers. Anyone who got in their way, they would target with violence, including murder.”

Prosecutors said all victims of the assassins were shot execution-style in Canada, so their family members could see them murdered, including two parents in Canada, who were mistakenly thought to have stolen a drug shipment. The mother and father were shot in front of their daughter, who was also shot several times but survived.

Authorities seized cocaine, guns, ammunition, cash and more than $3 million in cryptocurrency.

Wedding is among four of the named 16 defendants in the indictment who are still on the loose and considered to be fugitives.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and extradition. FBI agents believe that Wedding is still living in Mexico.

If convicted of murder and attempted murder charges, Wedding reportedly faces a mandatory minimum of life behind bars.

Charges against the alleged criminals range from drug counts, running a criminal enterprise and murders connected to the drug operation.

Federal authorities charge 68 members of LA white supremacist gang

October 3, 2024

Federal authorities charged 68 members of the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods with a variety of crimes including drug trafficking and financial fraud. The group is a California-based white supremacist gang.

“The Peckerwoods are involved in a wide variety of criminal activity,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. “Everything from drug trafficking to fraud offenses, to firearm offenses, violence, and identity theft. But what truly distinguishes them, what defines them is their hate and their nemesis toward racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.”

A 76-count indictment unsealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, alleged a years-long criminal enterprise involving drug trafficking, weapons violations and sophisticated financial fraud schemes, including COVID-19 benefits and loan fraud.

Some of the charges include conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, among other charges.

During the investigation, law enforcement said they seized large quantities of illegal firearms and dozens of pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin.

The gang also formed alliances with notorious prison gangs, including the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican Mafia.

Members allegedly display their extremist beliefs through Nazi tattoos and graffiti, including swastikas and the “88” symbol representing allegiance to Adolf Hitler.

Several law enforcement agencies collaborated for the operation, with the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office spearheading the effort.

Attorney General Merrick Garland described the operation as a “decisive blow” to the Peckerwoods, emphasizing the gang’s involvement in trafficking deadly fentanyl and committing violent robberies.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California will prosecute the case.

More than 8,000 pounds of cocaine seized in Guyana’s largest drug bust

September 3, 2024

Authorities in Guyana made their largest ever seizure of cocaine, taking more than 8,000 pounds from the jungle near the border with Venezuela. Officials said the seizure is the biggest drug bust in Guyana’s history.

The South American country’s security minister estimated the drugs’ value at around $200 million. Police said traffickers dug holes in the ground and stashed the cocaine before covering the holes with wooden planks.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the operation that led to one suspect’s arrest. Police said they are still looking for two more suspects who ran from the scene.

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Authorities seized the large amount of cocaine in an area where Guyanese police found improvised submersible vessels hidden in the jungle in recent years. Officials said it is unclear if any of those vessels were actually used but vowed to step up monitoring in that region.

The seized cocaine was reportedly meant to be shipped to a European country.

Guyana’s security minister said the bust is part of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Drug traffickers’ lost cargo keeps surfacing on Florida shores

August 30, 2024

Florida’s beaches have become unexpected hotspots for illegal drug discoveries in recent weeks. In the latest incident, vacationers at the Islands of Islamorada resort in the Florida Keys found a package containing 16 bricks of suspected cocaine. The bricks, each wrapped in blue tape and adorned with a picture of a beach buggy were promptly reported to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This find is part of a broader trend, with several similar incidents occurring on Florida’s shores this year. Earlier this month, over 70 pounds of cocaine, valued at approximately $1 million, washed up in the Florida Keys after Hurricane Debby. Additionally, a 56-pound package of cocaine, estimated to be worth $625,000, was discovered floating near Everglades City.

The frequent appearance of cocaine on Florida beaches is linked to drug traffickers’ methods of operation. According to the Justice Department, traffickers often drop packages of drugs into the ocean to evade detection by law enforcement, intending for them to be retrieved later by other smugglers. However, ocean currents, hurricanes, or tropical storms can cause these packages to wash ashore.

In some cases, drugs are dropped from private aircraft to ships at sea, offering another method for smugglers to transport goods into the U.S., particularly in states like Florida.

The United Nations reported that about 90% of the cocaine consumed in North America originates from Colombia, often making its way through the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

US border agents seize $5 million worth of meth hidden in fake watermelons

August 23, 2024

Drug smugglers are broadening their horizons in their attempts to get illegal drugs into the U.S. This time, border agents intercepted a truck carrying more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine. The drugs were disguised to look like over 1,000 watermelons at a border crossing in San Diego.

This comes just a week after officials at the same border crossing discovered nearly 300 kilograms of meth hidden in a shipment of celery. Combined, these two seizures account for more than $6 million worth of illicit drugs.

Over 4,000 pounds of methamphetamine, wrapped in plastic and painted in different shades of green, were seized by border agents. The fake watermelons were also hidden among real watermelons, and shipped across the Otay Mesa border crossing.

Officials say this method of smuggling drugs by concealing them within produce is nothing new. While banana shipments are usually a popular choice, gouda cheese and avocados are known to be favorites for smugglers.

U.S. Cutoms and Border Protection officials stated that their officers flagged the truck, which was listed as watermelons. Further inspection revealed the massive haul of methamphetamine. The driver of the truck was handed over to Homeland Security as the investigation continues.

Mexican drug cartels remain the leading producers and suppliers of methamphetamine to the United States.

Mexico considers treason charges for anyone who helped hand over drug lord

August 14, 2024

Prosecutors in Mexico are considering criminal charges for anyone who helped hand over the drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States. In July, the Justice Department arrested Joaquin Guzman Lopez — Sinaloa cartel co-founder and El Chapo’s son — and Zambada after their plane landed at a small airport in New Mexico.

Guzman and Zambada are both leaders of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel. Guzman allegedly wanted to turn himself in, while Zambada said he was taken against his will.

The Mexican Attorney General’s office announced it’s considering charges for Guzman and anyone else who helped turn over “El Mayo.

The charges include “illegal flight, illicit use of airports, immigration and customs violations, kidnapping, treason and any other crimes that may apply.”

In Mexico, there’s an added meaning to its treason statute, it includes anyone who “illegally abducts a person in Mexico in order to hand them over to authorities of another country.”

According to the AP, that clause was added after someone kidnapped a doctor who was responsible for the torture and killing of a DEA agent in 1985, handing him over the to the United States.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador agreed with the decision to open a criminal investigation into Zambada’s arrest.

“[Zambada’s arrest] could have been an operation of the U.S. Department of Justice, and they must provide an explanation because we will find out anyway,” Lopez Obrador said at a press conference.

President Lopez Obrador has previously said he opposes U.S. intervention in Mexico. He also said the arrest could be part of a plot to smear him. This is the same president who has a “hugs not bullets” policy for fighting drug cartels.

“Why don’t they change that policy in the United States,” Lopez Obrador questioned. “Why do they think that arresting one famous drug lord — or two, or three or ten — is going to solve their [drug abuse] problem?”

Mexico’s president and Mexican prosecutors are expressing their disapproval of the operation after Zambada’s lawyer released a letter the drug lord wrote from prison that stated he was ambushed, kidnapped and taken to the United States against his will.

Those are serious accusations coming from a man who had a $15 million bounty on his head and faces murder, kidnapping and trafficking charges.

Zambada has already made two court appearances in the United States, he’s scheduled to make a third on Sept. 9. He’s being held without bond.

Nearly 2,600 lbs of meth found in celery at Georgia farmers’ market

August 14, 2024

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the seizure of 2,585 pounds of methamphetamine worth around $3.2 million disguised as produce on Monday, Aug. 12. DEA agents made the discovery at the Atlanta State Farmers’ Market in Georgia.

“This was contained in a cover load of celery,” Robert Murphy, the DEA special agent in charge, said. “It was hiding in the celery. Obviously, we threw the celery away. That didn’t make it to the store.”

The DEA said that this is the largest drug seizure by the Atlanta division ever and the third largest find by the agency so far in 2024.

DEA officials said that they were given a tip about a semitrailer loaded with the drugs traveling across the Mexican border. The agency was able to track the truck to the Atlanta State Farmers’ Market.

Authorities found the meth inside the truck at the farmers’ market. The driver of the truck, Jesus Martinez, a Mexican national, was arrested.

Murphy said that the significant quantity of the drugs found “shows the confidence of the cartel behind this.”

This bust isn’t the only case of smugglers disguising drug distribution this year. Six men have been charged as part of a so-called “drug empire” for allegedly hiding millions of dollars’ worth of meth and cocaine inside bluetooth karaoke speakers. The men supposedly smuggled the drug-filled devices from California to Pennsylvania.