Feds crush ‘historic’ ABQ-centered drug empire: Millions in drugs, cash seized

The Piñon Post ^ | May 1, 2025 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

A sprawling fentanyl trafficking network stretching from Albuquerque to Salem, Oregon, has been shattered by federal authorities in what’s being called one of the largest operations of its kind in U.S. history.

The takedown, made public this week, culminated in a massive sweep across New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon. Federal agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized staggering amounts of contraband: over 4 million fentanyl pills, $4.4 million in cash, 79 pounds of meth, along with heroin, cocaine, and more than 41 firearms, according to records from the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.

At the helm of this massive enterprise, prosecutors say, was Heriberto Salazar Amaya, apprehended in Portland, Oregon. Five others are already in custody in Albuquerque, following a 12-count grand jury indictment against 14 suspects. The sweeping charges include conspiracy, drug distribution, and employing an illegal alien.

“Defendants ran a continuing criminal enterprise … and they did so across a large swath of the United States,” prosecutors stated in a motion pushing for continued detention of the suspects. The court filing, which included charts highlighting drug overdose spikes in the affected states, described the operation as devastating. Three defendants in Albuquerque have already been ordered held without bail, with more hearings to come.

“The nature and circumstances of the conspiracy are sobering,” the motion emphasized. “The destruction that occurred in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Colorado at the hands of the (Heriberto Salazar Amaya drug trafficking organization) mandate that defendants remain in custody pending trial.” Prosecutors didn’t mince words, accusing the group of “terrorizing five states while operating one of the largest fentanyl (drug trafficking organizations) in history.”

[CedarDave]

Monday’s raid in ABQ included seizure of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills stuffed in bins inside a storage unit, and at a residence agents found $300,000 in cash, 365,000 fentanyl pills, meth, cocaine, and 39 guns—including a high-powered sniper rifle.

[CedarDave]

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[CedarDave]

Link to ABQ Journal story:

DEA busts five-state drug trafficking organization, seizes 4 million fentanyl pills

[pfflier]

Why so much success now? Seems too many govt officials were bought off before?

[newfreep]

One of the perps...

[Zathras]

The Fed probably knew about everyone involved for 10 years.
It took serious changes in how our gov enforced laws to finally get them arrested.
Obummer and Holder probably blocked this for decades.

[DiogenesLamp]

Beat me to it.

[DesertRhino]

Who, what, when, where, why and how?

In the northwest heights in Albuquerque? At a house in Albuquerque? Might be nice to know if you lived next door. Addresses etc? Journalism today is abysmal.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

And, it appears that there were not leaks to the freaks.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It’s pretty AMAZING what Law Enforcement can do...once their hands are untied! MAGA! :)

There’s a new Sheriff in ‘town,’ Boys!

[Fireone]

“Obummer and Holder probably blocked this for decades.”

Obama and Holder probably profited from this for decades.
(fixed it)

[cherry]

This may tie in with the white elanra found ditched outside eugene oregone back in Nov of 22....drug cartel and hit.

[Zathras]

Very likely you are correct

[Racketeer]

I have to laugh every time the gooooooooooberment puts out a story and claims something huge.

That aforementioned ABQ raid is a drop in the bucket. People should be pissed. The “Drug War” is over 40 years old and the goooooooooooberment is praising themselves for a skirmish won!

[Deaf Smith]

You forgot the Salamancas and the two cousins.

[TigersEye]

The agents obviously gathered most of the intel they needed before Trump took office. A case like this is not put together in three and a half months.

There was no will to make such a bust under the Potato Puppet regime. Now there is.

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Libloather]

Brandon could’ve done this. But he didn’t.

[ronnie raygun]

No doubt there is money to be had by these criminal politicians who looked the other way for years

[Captain Peter Blood]

A mere drop in the bucket for what comes into this country.