The Department of Homeland Security has launched the next phase of its campaign to stop fentanyl from entering the U.S. The department began operations “Artemis” and “Rolling Wave” to disrupt the supply chain “in the development and movement of fentanyl,” a news release said.
The two new operations follow the success of operations “Blue Lotus” and “Four Horsemen,” which stopped the entry of nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl and led to 284 arrests in two months.
“The intelligence and investigative work being conducted by DHS agencies and with our federal partners to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain is unprecedented,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in the release. “These operations build on the success of Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen, which from March through May prevented nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl from entering the United States and yielded invaluable insights into criminal networks.
"Cartels have been producing synthetic drugs for years, and the DHS workforce is unwavering in its dedication to stopping them," he added. "In the past two years, DHS seized more fentanyl than in the previous five years combined, and these operations are an example of how we are broadening that effort.”
A prescription drug that is also made and used illegally, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, the National Institute on Drug Abuse said. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the most common drugs in overdose deaths in the U.S.
Operations Artemis and Rolling Wave will use “multidisciplined interagency jump teams at strategic locations” to disrupt fentanyl’s supply chain, the release said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will lead Operation Artemis by using information from Operation Blue Lotus “to target the fentanyl supply chain and interdict items required in the production of fentanyl.” Homeland Security Investigations will support that operation.
“Concurrently, Operation Rolling Wave will surge inbound inspections at Southwest border checkpoints, covering every sector and leveraging predictive analysis and intelligence sharing,” the department said.
“HSI will continue surging resources to ports of entry, where 90% of fentanyl is trafficked primarily in cars and trucks, while also increasing its coordination of operations to target the fentanyl supply chain under Blue Lotus 2.0," it added. "CBP will run a parallel intelligence and analysis operation, Operation Argus, to provide trade-focused analysis in support of Blue Lotus 2.0 and Artemis.”
Tae Johnson, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy director and senior official performing the duties of the director, praised the work of everyone involved in stopping fentanyl from entering the U.S.
“The incredible efforts and outcomes of Homeland Security Investigations special agents during Operation Blue Lotus was just the beginning of this ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic,” Johnson said. “HSI is continuing this fight against transnational criminal organizations head-on, utilizing every investigative resource available, together with our partners to disrupt and dismantle these illicit narcotics supply chains.”
