Part 8/12:
The leading conduit for these illicit substances is the Sinaloa cartel, with law enforcement agencies tying dozens of cases to its operatives. The record seizure of over 417,000 fentanyl pills in 2023 alone showcases the magnitude of the threat. The recent federal surge aims to dismantle the infrastructure that supports this illegal trade, ripping out the human resources—couriers, stash house operators, wholesalers, and document forgers—that sustain the drug epidemic.