Incomplete (tip-o-the iceberg, seriously this isn’t the half-of-it!) list of links to United States (U.S.) drug related crimes and oddities for the month of January 2023:

On 16JAN2023, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) transferred approximately 250 kilograms of cocaine, and three smugglers, to Dominican Republic.  They were captured in the Mona Passage on 10JAN2023.

On 30JAN2023, USCG Cutter Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) captured 4-thousand kilograms of hashish and 512 kilograms of methamphetamine, in the Gulf of Oman. This was the first drug seizure in 2023 for Combined Task Force (CTF)-150: “This is just the beginning of our work in delivering maritime security operations in the region to stop illicit activities and drug smuggling. This comes as a result of a valued partnership between CTF 150 and all partner nations in Combined Maritime Forces.”-Captain James Byron, United Kingdom Royal Navy, current leader of CMF-150 (so, even the U.S. led anti-smuggling operations in the Gulf of Oman are commanded by Red Coats!)

Also on 30JAN2023, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence gave a short history of the U.S. Tactical Analysis Teams (TATs) deployed to Central and South America, in the name of taking the Reagan era War on Drugs international.  The first TAT was formed and deployed in 1989.  Obviously, to me, it has been a resounding failure, but don’t tell that to the taxpayer funded U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, or U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom).

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported capturing more than 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022, enough to kill every American! Most of the fentanyl is smuggled by Mexican drug gangs, and is being mass-produced at secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China!

CALIFORNIA:   The leader of a Guatemalan drug-gang sent to federal prison for just over 17 years.  The operation involved smuggling cocaine from South American countries, through Guatemala and Mexico, into the U.S., using migrants and boats!

A Mexican national pled guilty to selling Mexican made pills of fentanyl and synthetic heroin.  The pills were sold under the name of ‘Chinese Food’.

In the marijuana legal Golden State, the crew of the USCG Cutter Alert (WMEC-630) off-loaded approximately 4-thousand pounds of marijuana in San Diego, on 18JAN2023.

COLORADO: The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Division seized over 5.8 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022! The Division covers the states of Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

FLORIDA: Doctor gets five years in federal prison for illegally prescribing opioid pain medication.

The leader of a drug smuggling gang is facing life in federal prison after a jury found him guilty.  The meth came into Florida from Georgia and Texas, but originated in Mexico.

IDAHO:  A Blackfoot man was sent to federal prison for life, for smuggling methamphetamine and heroin from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mexico, and for operating a violent debt collection gang!

ILLINOIS: An illegal migrant sent to federal prison for more than three years, after he was caught smuggling fentanyl from Mexico, again!

The Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Division announced the seizure of 804,551 fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and over 549 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022!  The Chicago Division covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

LOUISIANA: The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Field Division announced the seizure of more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022! The New Orleans Field Division covers Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.

MARYLAND: The former medical director for Rosen-Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management was put on only 18 months probation for his part in an illegal opioid operation run through the clinic!

MS-13 gang member sent to federal prison for life!

MASSACHUSETTS: A 61 years old man pled guilty to being part of a Colombian Medellín Cartel cocaine operation, including violent debt collections.

An illegal from Dominican Republic, who is a repeat illegal migration offender, is now charged with the crime of smuggling fentanyl.

NEBRASKA: The DEA’s Omaha Division seized nearly 4.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl in both pill and powder form in 2022!  The Omaha Division covers Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

NEW YORK: Man judged to be responsible for the deaths of three people in one day, after a court ruled that he intentionally laced the drugs he sold with a lethal dose of fentanyl.  It was also shown that the drug dealer knew the victims had a history of health problems because of the drug!

A former leader of the Colombian drug gang Clan del Golfo (CdG) pled guilty to smuggling cocaine,  he was fined $216-million and faces 20 to life in federal prison.

OREGON: A Honduran national arrested for smuggling heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and meth from Mexico, as well as 12 illegally modified guns.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Savitz Drug Store fined $275-thousand for violating the Controlled Substances Act!

RHODE ISLAND: After almost a year in jail, a Dominican national admitted to charges of cocaine smuggling by using the U.S. Postal Service!

TEXAS: Two Mexican women sent to federal prison after pleading guilty to smuggling heroin in potato chip bags, they were able to get into the U.S. legally by using B1/B2 tourist visas.

70 years old woman pleads guilty to smuggling $1-million worth of marijuana!

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division reported the seizure of over 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022! The El Paso Division covers West Texas and New Mexico.

The Dallas Field Division announces the seizure of more than 7,000 pounds of methamphetamine and over 1 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills during the 2022!  The Division covers North Texas and Oklahoma.

WEST VIRGINIA:

On 06JAN2023, the West Virginia National Guard retired their RC-26 Condor (#  94-0260), which had been used on counter drug missions inside the United States.  RC-26 #94-0260 was the last of 11 such aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force and National Guard.

Washington DC: The Chief Executive Officer of JointVentures delivery service pleads guilty to laundering roughly $3-million-500-thousand generated by the illegal sale of marijuana and THC!

The DEA’s Washington DC Division seized over 8.3 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022!  The DC Division covers District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

On 24JAN2023, Assistant Director Eric Talbot, Office of National Drug Control Policy, spoke with military students from Central and South America, attending the taxpayer funded Organization of American States’ Inter-American Defense College, about current U.S. illegal drugs policy.

WASHINGTON: A man working for the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG,  Jalisco New Generation Cartel) was sent to federal prison for ten years, he was found guilty of smuggling fentanyl from Mexico, and illegally providing guns to drug gang ‘debt collectors’! 

If you don’t think that countries would use drugs as a weapon of war then you’ve never heard of the British empire’s Opium Wars against China in the 1800s, the British empire was the pioneer of using drugs as weapons!

Drugs, the American Way: MORE DOCTORS, MORE PHARMACIES, MORE HOSPITALS, MORE ILLEGALS!

2021: Illicit Fentanyl and China’s Role