US federal drug trafficking investigations

Law enforcement agencies in the United States have conducted significant operations targeting large-scale fentanyl and cocaine trafficking.

In August 2026, a multi-state task force dismantled a criminal enterprise allegedly led by Brendan Bragg. The organization operated between Detroit and West Virginia, distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl, carfentanil, and cocaine across Michigan, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia. The investigation, which lasted over two years, resulted in indictments against 28 individuals and the seizure of various narcotics, firearms, and cash. U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey characterized the group as a “high-level multi-state criminal enterprise” that used cash applications to facilitate transactions.

In September 2026, federal authorities in Maryland charged a father and son, Rashad Deondre Hicks and Lawrence Alonzo Hicks, in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation. Following a DEA and FBI investigation that began in January 2026, authorities seized approximately 4.4 kilograms of fentanyl and several kilograms of cocaine. The narcotics involved in the case were valued at approximately $1.7 million.