The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working alongside the FBI, has seized over $10 million in cryptocurrency linked to the notorious Sinaloa cartel throughout operations in Miami, Florida.
The seizure got here as a part of an intensive nationwide crackdown that has led to the confiscation of 44 million fentanyl drugs, 4,500 kilos of fentanyl powder, almost 65,000 kilos of methamphetamine, and greater than 201,500 kilos of cocaine since January 2025, in keeping with the US Division of Justice.
“DEA is hitting the cartels the place it hurts — with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless strain,” stated DEA Appearing Administrator Robert Murphy. “We’re dismantling these networks piece by piece — and we gained’t cease till the final brick of their empire falls.”
The Sinaloa cartel stays one in all six Mexican drug trafficking organizations labeled as international “terrorist” teams by the US authorities. The group is primarily concerned within the distribution of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, hashish and MDMA (ecstasy).
Associated: Canada to observe crypto transactions for drug cash
DEA launches nationwide raids
The DOJ highlighted a number of current profitable raids throughout the US amid a nationwide crackdown on medicine. In Lexington County, South Carolina, brokers seized 156 kilos of fentanyl and 44 kilos of methamphetamine alongside a firearm and arrested a trafficker.
In California’s Kern County, a methamphetamine conversion lab was dismantled, with brokers confiscating over 240 kilos of crystal meth and 151 gallons of liquid meth.
Georgia officers intercepted over 700 kilos of methamphetamine hidden in a truckload of cucumbers, and Texas regulation enforcement uncovered 1,700 kilos of methamphetamine price over $15 million hidden inside a car.
The raids coincide with ongoing authorized battles towards cartel figures, together with Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of infamous drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who lately pleaded responsible to drug prices in Chicago.
“Our DEA brokers are doing historic work to maintain our communities secure from lethal medicine like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels promoting them,” Legal professional Normal Pamela Bondi stated. “I need to remind all People to train excessive warning: a capsule can kill.”
Associated: DWF Labs accomplice stood down after drink-spiking allegations
Crypto crosschain laundering jumps to $21.8 billion
In response to UK blockchain analytics agency Elliptic, illicit and high-risk cryptocurrency flowing via crosschain swaps has surged to an estimated $21.8 billion in 2025, up from $7 billion in 2023. North Korean actors account for roughly 12% of those transactions.
Elliptic famous that crosschain swaps have grow to be central to laundering operations, as criminals leverage a number of blockchains to obscure the origin and vacation spot of funds. Whereas pricey and inefficient, these techniques have grow to be commonplace in large-scale laundering efforts.
Journal: Inside a 30,000 cellphone bot farm stealing crypto airdrops from actual customers
