Federal authorities announce 'most significant victory' in nationwide fight against fentanyl

The federal government has called it the largest fentanyl bust in the nation’s history.

Authorities say the operation stretched across several states and amassed millions in cash, but the lion’s share of fentanyl — more than 400 kilograms — was seized in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

In a news conference Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Attorney General Pam Bondi called the bust “the most significant victory in our nation’s fight against fentanyl and drug trafficking to date.”

Between a Santa Fe home and a storage unit and another home in Albuquerque, authorities seized 407 kilos of fentanyl, several kilos of heroin, seven pounds of methamphetamine, $610,000 in cash and 49 guns, including those with switches and untraceable “ghost guns,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

The Journal first reported the nationwide operation and seizures May 1 after federal court records detailing the investigation were filed in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque. Since then, several other suspects have been charged and more details revealed.

Bondi identified Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, as the ringleader of the operation, which she said had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Salazar Amaya was arrested April 28 in Salem, Oregon, where he was found with $2.8 million in cash and $50,000 worth of jewelry.

“With him, they got millions of dollars, cash, cars — but the drugs were in Albuquerque, Phoenix and Utah,” Bondi said during the briefing. “That’s how insulated these drug dealer, cartel leaders, make themselves.”

Salazar Amaya and 15 others have been charged in the sprawling case, most of them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Salazar Amaya, a Mexican national, is also charged with illegal reentry after deportation, hiring an unauthorized alien and conspiracy to harbor unauthorized aliens.

Tessa DuBerry, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said four other suspects are Mexican nationals — Cesar Acuña Moreno, 27, George Navarette Ramirez, 25, Misael Lopez Rubio, 25, and David Altimirano Lopez.

“We will not tolerate those who profit from poisoning American citizens, the fight continues but today our communities are safer with these drugs and criminals off the streets,” Ryan Ellison, U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, said during the briefing.

Charging documents that specify the allegations have not been filed for Salazar Amaya and several others charged in the case. Only a few attorneys have been assigned to suspects, and none had comment.

The DEA provided data Tuesday showing that the amount of fentanyl seized by the agency’s El Paso Division, which covers New Mexico, had dropped from 424 kilos in fiscal year 2022 to 238 kilos in 2024 before spiking again to 313 kilos so far in 2025, which has several months left in the fiscal year.

Bondi said the operation required “months and months” of investigation, from smaller undercover buys on the street to bigger fish like Salazar Amaya. She said, in all, it amounted to 55,000 man-hours from law enforcement.

DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy said agents infiltrated the organization “at every level” and identified main players in Mexico who are aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel.

The DEA has been investigating the drug trafficking organization since August 2024, and the first arrests happened in November, according to federal court records. Authorities say agents used a GPS tracker to surveill Jose Marquez as he bought fentanyl from Bruce Sedillo, 26, in Albuquerque — finding 11,000 pills in Marquez’s vehicle and 170,000 pills at Sedillo’s home.

As the investigation continued, authorities identified stash locations for the operation. In late April, agents raided an apartment and storage unit in Albuquerque and an apartment in Santa Fe, finding storage tubs and safes loaded with blue pills.

Roberta Herrera, 31, was found with 200,000 fentanyl pills, other drugs and 24 guns, including ghost guns, at an apartment northeast of Second and Montaño, according to federal court records. Agents seized 165 kilos of fentanyl pills at a storage unit on Juan Tabo, south of Spain NE, that had been frequented by Lopez-Rubio and Acuna-Moreno.

In Santa Fe, agents arrested Phillip Lovato, 39, after raiding a home in the 3200 block of Rufina, northeast of Cerrillos and Richards, and finding two safes with 110,000 fentanyl pills and $80,000 cash inside.

At the end of Tuesday’s briefing, Bondi said the operation wasn’t over.

“More seizures are coming, more arrests are coming, I guarantee you that. These dealers, these sellers … better look out,” she said.