FBI Arrests 316 Somali Taxi Drivers in Minnesota — 887KG Fentanyl, Massive Weapons Cache Seized, But Authorities Warn the True Network May Still Be Operating in the Shadows

What began as a routine crackdown on illegal activity in Minnesota’s taxi service sector rapidly escalated into a massive federal operation, resulting in the arrest of 316 Somali taxi drivers connected to an explosive criminal network. Federal agents uncovered a sprawling operation that involved hidden storage sites, secret shipments, and layers of financial manipulation. The taxi service, often seen as a legitimate business, was in fact being used as a front to move illegal goods—including 887 kilograms of fentanyl, a massive weapons cache, and a wide array of laundered money.

At the heart of the operation was a sophisticated network that blended legitimate taxi services with a massive drug and weapons trafficking ring. The drivers, many of whom were working under the radar, used their vehicles to transport fentanyl—a deadly opioid with the power to devastate communities. Alongside the drugs, arms shipments were being moved, fueling organized crime in the region.

While 316 individuals have been arrested and a significant amount of fentanyl and firearms have been seized, authorities warn that this is just Phase One of the operation. The true scope of the network remains unclear. Investigators fear that connections, hidden routes, and additional operators are still out there, slipping through the cracks of the investigation. The arrests are a critical first step, but they may have only scratched the surface of a much larger and more sophisticated criminal empire.

With authorities still piecing together the full scope of the operation, the real question now is just how deep this network runs. Who else is involved, and what other parts of the country could be connected to this ring? Federal investigators remain on high alert as they continue to probe into the hidden layers of this sprawling operation.