During a large-scale operation in Miami, American agencies arrested members of the Sinaloa cartel and confiscated cryptocurrency assets worth over $10 million. The operation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of a nationwide campaign to dismantle drug cartels.
This is reported by Finway
Scope of the Operation and Money Laundering Methods
Since the beginning of 2025, this campaign has resulted in the seizure of over 300,000 pounds of illegal substances. According to law enforcement, dozens of drug labs have been dismantled across the United States this year. In particular, millions of doses of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine have been confiscated.
Among the notable raids in the first half of 2025 are:
- dismantling a drug lab in Kern County, California;
- interception of a shipment containing 700 pounds of illegal substances disguised as cucumbers in Georgia;
- seizure of fentanyl and weapons in South Carolina;
- discovery in Texas of 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 in Criminal Activity and Government Response
Analysts note that members of the Sinaloa cartel are increasingly using digital assets for money laundering. According to estimates by Elliptic, illegal transaction volumes through cross-chain swaps exceeded $21.8 billion in 2025, with a significant portion of these funds linked to the drug trade.
Cross-chain mechanisms allow criminals to move funds between different cryptocurrency networks, significantly complicating the tracking of financial flows. Despite the complexity of such operations and high fees, this method is becoming increasingly common among criminal organizations.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the threat posed by the cartel, highlighting that legal proceedings against its members are ongoing. Among the suspects is Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of notorious drug lord El Chapo, who recently pleaded guilty to drug-related crimes.
Fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous substances used by the cartel. As Bondi noted, “fentanyl is not just a drug; it is a weapon. One pill can kill a person.”
US law enforcement warns that the rise in illegal cryptocurrency circulation poses new challenges in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.