Mexican forces seize 4M fentanyl doses from Sinaloa cartel cell

Mexicali, Baja California — Mexican authorities seized 120 kilograms of fentanyl pills — more than 4 million doses — in a raid on a property in Mexicali linked to Los Rusos, a cell authorities describe as the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel’s La Mayiza faction.

Public Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced the seizure on Wednesday, saying the operation was built on intelligence shared by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and investigative work by Mexican security agencies. Along with the pills, officers found a firearm and several vehicles at the property.

Los Rusos, led by Juan José Ponce Félix, known as El Ruso, operates primarily in Mexicali and the surrounding valley. The DEA has offered a reward for Ponce Félix. The group is aligned with the faction of Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as El Mayito Flaco, according to authorities.

The raid was carried out by Mexican federal forces — including the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the Army, the Navy and the SSPC — with support from Baja California state authorities. The DEA provided information but did not take part in the operation.

The seizure is part of a broader push against drug trafficking groups in the border region. In recent months, authorities have arrested suspected operatives and hitmen linked to Los Rusos in the Mexicali Valley and have investigated former local police commanders for alleged ties to the organization.

García Harfuch announced the operation while in Buenos Aires for the 40th International Drug Enforcement Conference. A day earlier, DEA Administrator Terrance Cole praised him as a trusted partner and “a good friend of the United States.”