News brief

A massive fentanyl trafficking operation is dismantled. U.S. law enforcement officials said on May 6 that they had taken down one of the largest fentanyl trafficking operations in the country’s history, making 16 arrests and seizing millions of fentanyl pills. Authorities also seized 11.5 kg of fentanyl powder and large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in last month’s operation, according to U.S. officials. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said six defendants in the United States illegally would face charges in U.S. courts, unlike other cases in which the Justice Department opted to deport rather than prosecute undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.

In December, the Monitor reported on the variety of people who are tracing how fentanyl gets into the country – and tracking it down once it’s inside.