Largest Fentanyl Bust in DEA History, 400 Kilos from the Sinaloa Cartel Seized in New Mexico

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Federal authorities have arrested 16 individuals and seized record-breaking quantities of fentanyl, cash, firearms, and vehicles across multiple states, dismantling what the DEA is calling 'one of the largest and most dangerous drug trafficking organizations in U.S. history.'

Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, also known as "El Paisa," is the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization distributing across the Southwest for the Sinaloa Cartel. The busts took place in 5 different states and included the record 400 kilo fentanyl seizure in New Mexico as well as dozens of weapons, high end vehicles and nearly $6 million in cash.

“This historic drug seizure, led by the DEA, is a significant blow against the Sinaloa Cartel that removes poison from our streets and protects American citizens from the scourge of fentanyl,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This case represents DEA’s largest single seizure of fentanyl pills to date. I commend the men and women of DEA for their extraordinary work, day in and day out, and I remind the cartels that DEA is relentlessly in pursuit and will not stop until we destroy your networks.”

The coordinated busts took place on April 28 and 29 as agents seized approximately 365,000 pills fentanyl pills, 1,543.5 grams of heroin, 569.9 grams of cocaine, and 24 firearms from Robert Herrera’s apartment. That same day, they seized approximately 165.5 kilograms of fentanyl pills from a storage unit rented by Misael Lopez Rubio.

On April 29, agents seized approximately 110,000 fentanyl pills from a stash house in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The trafficking ring was led by Heriberto Salazar-Amaya and his brother Rafael for the Sinaloa Cartel. "He's the leader. He's the number one guy, and I want them to stay in our prisons as long as possible. I have no desire to send them back to Mexico because they were coming across our border illegally,” Bondi said of the bust. "No longer will they be able to do that, but the amount of drugs, the amount of money, the amount of weapons, most of these individuals, if convicted, will remain in American prisons, perhaps Alcatraz."

As part of this operation, law enforcement executed coordinated search warrants across 6 states, resulting in the following seizures:

Albuquerque, NM

• Approximately $610,000 in U.S. currency
• 49 firearms, some with switches, and some ghost guns
• 396 kilograms of fentanyl pills
• 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder
• 1.5 kilograms of cocaine
• 3.5 kilograms of heroin
• 7 pounds of methamphetamine
• A Ford Raptor and GMC Denali Two vehicles valued at approximately $140,000

Salem, OR

• More than $2.8 million in U.S. currency
• Jewelry valued at approximately $50,000
• A Mercedes AMG and Ford F-150 Shelby valued at approximately $150,000

Layton, UT

• Approximately $780,000 in U.S. currency
• A Dodge TRX Mammoth valued at approximately $150,000

Phoenix, AZ

• Approximately $390,000 in U.S. currency
• 72 pounds of methamphetamine
• 13 kilograms of fentanyl pills
• 2.4 pounds of heroin
• 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Las Vegas, NV

• Illegal alien apprehended and removed
• More than $93,000 in U.S. currency
• 2.7 kilograms of cocaine
• 1 pound of methamphetamine

Denver, CO

Salazar-Amaya's older brother Rafael and three others were arrested in Colorado.

• 800,000 fentanyl pills
• More than $60,000 in U.S. currency
• Various amounts of meth, heroin and fentanyl powder

Sources DOJ, DEA