Cryptocurrency is now used in drug running as DEA seizes $10 million in Florida from cartel

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working with the FBI, has seized more than $10 million in cryptocurrency tied to Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa cartel during recent drug raids across the country. This major seizure in Miami, Florida, shows that drug trafficking groups are changing their tactics to move and hide money while avoiding law enforcement.

The Justice Department reported this week that since January 20, 2025, the DEA has carried out large-scale operations, leading to the seizure of about 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, close to 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 201,500 pounds of cocaine. According to Fox, these raids have also resulted in over 2,105 arrests related to fentanyl.

Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the DEA’s work, saying they “are doing historic work to keep our communities safe from deadly drugs like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels selling them.” WORDS

DEA takes down Sinoloa Cartel operations in Florida

Acting Administrator Robert Murphy reinforced the agency’s dedication, adding, “DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts — with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure. From meth labs in California to fentanyl pills disguised as pharmaceuticals seized at our border, these operations are saving American lives every single day.”

The Sinaloa cartel’s use of cryptocurrency shows a rising pattern among criminal groups using digital money for illegal transactions, which makes it harder for law enforcement to follow the money. However, this recent seizure proves that federal agencies are getting better at tracking and confiscating these digital funds.

The nationwide operations took place in several states, including California, Arizona, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Some of the biggest seizures included methamphetamine hidden in shipments of cucumbers and blueberries. This organized effort deals a serious hit to the cartel’s money systems and their ability to keep running their illegal business.