The fight against the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel remains the top priority for the DEA El Paso Division as a 26-year DEA veteran takes over one of the largest offices on the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Our priorities continue to be the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels who are responsible for bringing the majority of fentanyl into this country,” said Towanda R. Thorne-James, new El Paso Division Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Logistically, because we are so close to the border, this office is instrumental in investigations … It (El Paso) is the first point of entry into the U.S., where it (drugs) goes East, West and onto other states (such as) California, Arizona. Fentanyl is sourced and manufactured in Mexico, so it’s just easy to come through El Paso through the southwest border and then distribute to every place else.”
Thorne-James took over the DEA El Paso Division, which covers West Texas and New Mexico, in December after being named to lead the office by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. She now leads DEA agents in 50 counties in two states, covering 159,284 square miles.