American intelligence agencies conducted a major operation in Miami, during which participants of the Sinaloa drug cartel were arrested and cryptocurrencies worth over $10 million were seized. The operation was carried out in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States, and it became part of a nationwide strategy to combat illegal drug networks.
This is reported by Business • Media
Scope of the Operation and New Criminal Schemes
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of the DEA’s campaign, over 300,000 pounds of drugs have already been seized since the beginning of 2025. In just the first months of this year, law enforcement dismantled dozens of laboratories, seizing millions of doses of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine across the country.
Among the most notable operations in the first half of 2025:
- dismantling an underground drug manufacturing laboratory in Kern County, California;
- interception of a shipment containing 700 pounds of illegal substances disguised as a cucumber delivery in Georgia;
- seizure of a batch of fentanyl and weapons in South Carolina;
- discovery in Texas of over 1,700 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at over $15 million.
“We are dismantling the cartel’s networks piece by piece — and we will not stop until the last brick of their empire falls,” said Acting DEA Administrator Robert Murphy.
Cryptocurrencies and Cross-Chain Swaps as Tools for Money Laundering
Law enforcement officials note that members of the Sinaloa cartel are increasingly using digital assets to conceal illegal proceeds. According to analysts, in 2025, the volume of money laundering through cross-chain swaps reached $21.8 billion, with a significant portion of these transactions linked to drug trafficking. Such mechanisms allow criminals to transfer funds between different cryptocurrency networks, complicating tracking efforts for law enforcement. Despite the complexity and high fees, such schemes are becoming increasingly popular among criminals.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by the illegal trade in fentanyl and other drugs. Among the high-profile cases currently being heard in courts is that of Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of El Chapo, who recently pleaded guilty to drug-related crimes.
“Fentanyl is not just a drug, it is a weapon. One pill can kill a person,” Bondi stated.
It was previously reported that the U.S. Department of Justice and Europol seized $200 million in fiat and cryptocurrency assets as part of the international operation RapTor.