On October 14–15, 2025, a container inspection at the Port of Houston uncovered 127 kilograms of 96% pure fentanyl pills hidden inside industrial kitchen equipment, launching Operation Serpent’s Gate. What followed was a coordinated federal crackdown across 19 locations targeting a $75 million fentanyl distribution network embedded within legitimate supply chains. After a 19-month investigation, federal agents dismantled a logistics empire that trafficked 527 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 1.4 million counterfeit prescription pills across six states.

The operation exposed systemic corruption, implicating 42 current and former law enforcement personnel who accepted $1.8 million in bribes to bypass inspections and leak enforcement actions. The investigation linked the network to 87 confirmed overdose deaths. Federal prosecutions resulted in life sentences, multi-decade prison terms, and $18.7 million in asset forfeitures, alongside sweeping anti-corruption reforms.

Results: 300 suspects arrested across 19 coordinated locations; 42 were current or former law enforcement personnel. 527 kg fentanyl powder and 1.4 million counterfeit pills seized; total street value: $75 million. $8.3 million in cash and total assets of $18.7 million forfeited. Miguel Ortega sentenced to life without parole; additional federal sentences issued to co-conspirators and corrupt officers.