WASHINGTON — Federal agents arrested more than 3,000 people and removed tens of millions of deadly drug doses from communities across the country in the second phase of a nationwide anti-trafficking surge.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced that Operation Fentanyl Free America Phase II, conducted between Jan. 12 and Feb. 10, 2026, resulted in the seizure of more than 4.7 million fentanyl pills and nearly 2,396 pounds of fentanyl powder, enough to represent more than 57 million potentially lethal doses.
The 30-day operation also netted nearly 147,800 pounds of cocaine, more than 26 million methamphetamine pills, nearly 21,000 pounds of methamphetamine powder, 1,183 pounds of heroin, more than 65,000 pounds of illicit marijuana, and 1,577 firearms. Agents made 3,080 arrests nationwide and seized more than $41 million in currency and $41 million in assets.
“The drug poisoning epidemic has been cultivated by designated terrorist cartels who operate like multi-billion-dollar corporations and have weaponized fentanyl,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “Enforcement saves lives. Education prevents the next tragedy. Together, we can end this crisis.”
The results mark a significant increase over Phase I, conducted in October 2025, which yielded approximately 3.7 million fentanyl pills, 1,709 pounds of fentanyl powder, and 1,890 arrests.
Key seizures from Phase II included:
A single operation by the DEA Louisville Field Division’s Chattanooga Resident Office resulted in the seizure of approximately 17 kilograms of fentanyl and two industrial-grade pill presses — enough fentanyl to produce nearly 9 million potentially lethal doses. In Tucson, Ariz., agents seized nearly 600,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills. An operation in Baltimore led to 43 arrests and the seizure of firearms, narcotics, and more than $200,000 in cash. In New York, a DEA task force removed 60,000 fentanyl pills from circulation following the arrest of a cartel-linked distributor.
The DEA launched the Fentanyl Free America initiative in October 2025, focusing on targeted enforcement against illicit drug networks, oversight of DEA registrants, and public awareness campaigns centered on the message: “One Pill Can Kill.”
Fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. A lethal dose can be as small as two milligrams ; roughly the size of a few grains of salt. Emily’s Hope distributes naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, free of charge across South Dakota. .
