The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports the conclusion of a year-long operation in which it found direct links between the Mexican-based Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels and communities across the nation including the five state DEA Omaha Division.
The Omaha Division includes Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota and eight counties along the western border of Illinois.
The administration says "Operation Last Mile" targeted operatives, associates, and distributors affiliated with cartels responsible for the last mile of fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution on local streets and on social media.
Over the course of a year, DEA Omaha Division investigators directly linked 26 investigations to the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels, with more connections expected as cases are investigated and prosecuted.
The division says fentanyl seizures both in pill and powder form continue to increase exponentially, while methamphetamine seizures increased 55 percent between 2018 and 2022.
DEA Omaha Division investigators made 87 arrests and seized 60 firearms tying to one of the two cartels.
(Picture from Getty Images)