August, 2025 has been a bad month for Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel's US drug and human smuggling operations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been targeting them all over the country for maximum effect, often resulting in the arrests of dozens of suspected Sinaloa Cartel operatives at a time.
And, to make sure the cartel gets the message that "the heat is on," the DEA is posting the results of their raids on social media using the hashtag #SinaloaCrackdown2025.
New Hampshire:
Among the most significant operations aimed at the Sinaloa Cartel acknowledged so far by the DEA was a three-month investigation into the cartel's network in Franklin, New Hampshire, that resulted in 27 arrests, multiple search warrants, and significant seizures over the course of 2 days this week:
Day 1 – August 26: DEA Agents, along with Franklin Police officers, executed three search warrants, arrested 17 individuals, and seized approximately $100,000 in cash, a firearm, and a quantity of illegal narcotics.
Day 2 – August 27: Enforcement actions continued with an additional 10 arrests and the clearing of a homeless encampment that had been involved in ongoing drug distribution.
“The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico has a strong hold on drug distribution in New England, and this week’s enforcement action attacked their street-level distribution network." - Jarod Forget, DEA Special Agent in Charge, New England Field Division
Washington State:
While in the Pacific Northwest, the US Attorney in Seattle this week announced that agents had "dismantled a Sinaloa Cartel-connected drug trafficking ring distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin throughout western Washington. The drug traffickers transported narcotics from Mexico, via California, sometimes using a semi-truck to bring the drugs up the coast. Drug deals occurred as far north as Whidbey Island and Arlington and as far south as Tacoma and the Lacey area," a statement from the US Attorney's Office said."
“The work of the DEA and our partners seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl from this group that could have yielded a staggering 6.9 million lethal doses. This fentanyl could have killed everyone living in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area." - David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division
More than a dozen people involved in this Sinaloa Cartel drug ring have been indicted, and arrests are ongoing. Some suspects are believed to be in Mexico. The US is working with authorities there to bring them to justice.
Los Angeles:
The DEA has not released many details of an operation in Los Angeles acknowledged today, except to announce the seizure of 26 kilos of Sinaloa Cartel Cocaine:
San Diego:
In another operation the DEA is being tight-lipped about, they report the seizure of 139 pounds of Sinaloa Cartel Methamphetamine in San Diego. They say the drugs were confiscated shortly after they entered the country from Mexico.
Dallas:
DEA Agents in Dallas seized two million dollars in Sinaloa Cartel Cash this week and arrested five people. Additional details of this operation have not been released.
UPDATE: On August 29, 2025, DEA Dallas issued a statement saying they have arrested 15 Sinaloa Cartel operatives, seized 210 kilos of cartel drugs (meth, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl), and seized more than $8 million in Sinaloa Cartel Cash so far this month.
St. Louis:
Also on August 29, 2025, DEA St. Louis announced the arrests of “multiple” Sinaloa Cartel members, as well as the seizure of 9 kilos of cocaine and $100,000 of cartel cash.
Baton Rouge:
This last bust shocked even seasoned drug agents: On August 28, 2025, the DEA seized 70,000 lethal doses of Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl near a Baton Rouge high school stadium, “enough to wipe out nearly all students at LSU, Southern, & Southeastern Universities,” the agency noted.
New York:
All this during a week that saw the co-founder and head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Mario Zambada-Garcia (also known as “El Mayo”), plead guilty to multiple felony counts in a New York courtroom on August 26, 2025.
“El Mayo,” who is 77 years old, will spend the rest of his life in a US prison.
How badly do you think the Sinaloa Cartel has been damaged by these actions this week?
Share your thoughts in the comments to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Outstanding work. Thank you.
Jack, even though I am shocked by the cartels, so grateful to you for your service. I hope that you keep us Patriots informed. We are not immune in Florida, where we reside. Jack you are a blessing.