SEATTLE — Federal agents in Washington state arrested 87 people and pulled 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 151 kilograms of methamphetamine, 16 kilograms of cocaine and 114 firearms off the streets during a 30-day blitz that removed more than 27 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl from Washington state communities, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced Wednesday, March 19.
“These results demonstrate DEA’s relentless commitment to dismantle the cartels driving the fentanyl crisis and to reduce the availability of these deadly drugs as we work toward a Fentanyl Free America,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA is leveraging our expertise in cartel operations, illicit finance, and intelligence sharing to save American lives. By removing millions of deadly doses from our communities and holding these criminal networks accountable, we are striking directly at the heart of their operations. DEA will not let up until fentanyl no longer threatens our communities.”
The operation marked Phase II of the DEA’s Fentanyl Free America initiative, a nationwide push launched to dismantle transnational criminal organizations blamed for fueling the synthetic opioid crisis. From Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, agents seized more than 4.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills and nearly 2,396 pounds of fentanyl powder equivalent to 57 million deadly doses officials said.
The Seattle division’s takedowns were part of a broader effort that netted 3,080 arrests, 1,577 firearms and almost $83 million in cash and assets across the country. Agents also seized nearly 21,000 pounds of methamphetamine powder, more than 26 million methamphetamine pills, 147,797 pounds of cocaine, 1,183 pounds of heroin and 65,142 pounds of illicit marijuana…