DEA says 95% of drugs in the Louisville area are linked to Mexican cartels

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Federal investigators say nearly all of the drugs making their way into Kentucky are tied to powerful Mexican cartels.

Jim Scott, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Louisville Division, said cartels dominate the drug pipeline into the region, particularly the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.

"It usually uses the Pacific coast," Scott said. "So most of those drugs are coming through California, through Arizona, and then they're making their way west through hub cities."

Agents said the cartels use a variety of methods to move narcotics, from people swimming across the border to shipments by car, plane, tractor-trailer, boat or mail.

"And with UPS being a large hub here in Louisville, we're certainly not immune to that," Scott said.

The DEA said cartel activity is on the rise. From Aug. 25 -29, federal agents targeted the Sinaloa Cartel, resulting in 617 arrests nationwide — including a Louisville man and 13 others in Kentucky.

"The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the largest cartels in Mexico," Scott said. "They've been designated a terrorist organization — along with CJNG, or the whole cartel — and they are certainly responsible for probably 95% of the drugs that make it into our area."

CJNG stands for Cartel Jalisco New Generation, a rival organization the DEA said is just as dangerous.

"It's as big of a problem as the Sinaloa Cartel," Scott said. "The DEA is focused on both, obviously. ... So, so we're laser focused on destroying both."

Photos from recent busts show large amounts of methamphetamine, along with cash and weapons. The DEA saif51 people were arrested in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, though suspects' names haven't been released.

"We've even found markings on the packages themselves that says Sinaloa," Scott said. "I don't know how much more clear you can get than that."

Nationwide, the operation seized 480 kilos of fentanyl powder, 220 kilos of meth, 7,400 kilos of cocaine and 420 guns.

Scott said the drugs flowing into the U.S. are stronger than ever.

"Methamphetamine is probably at the highest purity that we've seen," he said. "It's the methamphetamine that we see is often 95% and higher in purity. THC and marijuana that we're seeing on the street is probably the highest potency that we've ever seen it."

Street-level dealers in Louisville may be selling cartel-supplied drugs without realizing it, Scott added.

"The gang members that are selling drugs on the streets of Louisville are selling Sinaloa and CJNG supply drugs," he said "They may not realize that they're supporting Sinaloa activity, but they most certainly are."

The DEA estimates the Sinaloa Cartel has tens of thousands of members and associates operating in at least 40 countries.

"I think any time that we arrest a drug trafficker, it makes a difference," Scott said. "Any time that we can take drugs off of the street, it might be drugs that don't fall into the hands of your children."