A North Dakota cartel associate has been convicted for narcotics possession and distribution. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confiscated more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2023.
According to a press release from the U.S Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa branch, Ethan Longie, a 20-year-old resident of Bismarck, North Dakota, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Dec. 6, 2023. The press release reports that Longie was charged with drug trafficking on behalf of a "cartel." After pleading guilty to "possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance," it states that Longie was apprehended with over 350 grams of narcotics in Iowa. This haul included substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine among others. Despite being detained, the release mentions that Longie continued distributing narcotics. His sentence includes a $100 assessment and five years of "supervised release" following his imprisonment.
In a January 2024 press release from the DEA, it was reported that the agency’s Omaha Division - which covers parts of the Midwest including North Dakota - saw an 83% increase in fentanyl pill seizures amounting to an estimated 2.9 million lethal doses in 2023. According to the press release, this effort is only one part of the national seizure which totalled over 77 million fentanyl pills and almost 12,000 pounds of fentanyl. The DEA also noted that seizures in North Dakota rose by nearly 50%. The agency emphasized that fentanyl is the leading cause of death among American individuals aged between18-45 years old and can be lethal in doses as small as two milligrams.
The Federal Newswire reports that DEA's findings underscore the significant presence of Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels across the U.S., with connections in "all fifty states." These connections are maintained through "affiliates" – individuals not officially part of the cartels, but in direct communication with them. Sometimes they work for more than one cartel. The Federal Newswire adds that these cartels, primarily Sinaloa and Jalisco, operate throughout the country.
According to its website, Iowa’s U.S. Attorney's Office operates across 52 counties with over 20 assistant attorneys and support staff. The office works in various areas of legislation such as criminal and civil litigation, drugs and crime.
