WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced major drug seizures and thousands of arrests during a recent nationwide enforcement effort targeting fentanyl trafficking networks.
During Phase II of Operation Fentanyl Free America, conducted from Jan. 12 through Feb. 10, authorities seized more than 4.7 million fentanyl pills and nearly 2,396 pounds of fentanyl powder — equivalent to more than 57 million potentially deadly doses, according to the DEA.
The operation also resulted in more than 3,000 arrests nationwide and the seizure of large quantities of other drugs, including 147,797 pounds of cocaine, nearly 21,000 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 26 million methamphetamine pills, 1,183 pounds of heroin and 65,000 pounds of marijuana. More than 1,500 firearms were also recovered.
| PHASE II RESULTS
January 10 – February 12, 2026 |
PHASE I RESULTS
October 1 – October 31, 2025 |
|
| Fentanyl Pills | 4,702,781 | 3,683,763 |
| Fentanyl Powder | 2,396 lbs. | 1,709 lbs. |
| Methamphetamine Pills | 26,380,988 | 9,326,147 |
| Methamphetamine Powder | 20,944 lbs. | 42,620 lbs. |
| Cocaine | 147,797 lbs. | 77,846 lbs. |
| Marijuana | 65,142 lbs. | 20,619 lbs. |
| Heroin | 1,183 lbs. | 446 lbs. |
| Firearms | 1,577 | 1,155 |
| Arrests | 3,080 | 1,890 |
| Pill Press Machines | 29 | 26 |
| Total Currency | $41,888,922 | $55,256,607 |
| Total Assets | $41,445,327 | $2,725,826 |
Officials said the initiative is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and reduce the availability of illicit drugs.
“The drug poisoning epidemic has been cultivated by designated terrorist cartels who operate like multi-billion-dollar corporations and have weaponized fentanyl with the clear objective to increase America’s dependence on illicit drugs,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “It will take a targeted, collaborative response to preserve our future. Drug seizures in the United States strike directly at cartel profits, while efforts to disrupt supply chains and dismantle money laundering networks deliver consequences far beyond our borders. Meanwhile, we must reach into our communities nationwide and share the simple truth: One Pill Can Kill. Enforcement saves lives. Education prevents the next tragedy. Together, we can end this crisis.”
The DEA said synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine are often produced in large-scale clandestine labs using precursor chemicals and pill presses, with criminal organizations frequently trafficking multiple substances simultaneously.
Among specific enforcement actions, DEA agents in Tennessee seized approximately 17 kilograms of fentanyl along with industrial pill presses, preventing an estimated 9 million lethal doses from reaching the public. In Baltimore, an operation led to 43 arrests and multiple drug and firearm seizures, while authorities in Tucson, Arizona, confiscated nearly 600,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills.
In New York, a DEA task force removed 60,000 fentanyl pills from circulation following the arrest of a distributor with alleged cartel ties.
The agency also issued an Immediate Suspension Order to a pharmaceutical distributor in Kentucky for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Fentanyl Free America initiative, launched in October 2025, focuses on targeted enforcement, regulatory oversight and public awareness efforts aimed at reducing both the supply of and demand for illicit drugs.
