🚨 Operation Serpent’s Gate: $75 Million Fentanyl Network Dismantled in Houston

A routine cargo inspection at the Port of Houston has led to one of the largest fentanyl crackdowns in recent U.S. history. Authorities say 127 kilograms of nearly pure fentanyl were discovered concealed inside industrial kitchen equipment — a finding that triggered a 19-month federal investigation known as Operation Serpent’s Gate.

Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and partner agencies, the probe uncovered what officials describe as a six-state trafficking network responsible for distributing fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills. Investigators allege the operation generated approximately $75 million in illicit profits and has been linked to 87 confirmed overdose deaths.

In total, about 300 individuals were arrested. Prosecutors further allege that 42 law enforcement officers accepted roughly $1.8 million in bribes to bypass inspections and leak confidential enforcement plans. The accusations of internal corruption have intensified scrutiny over oversight and accountability mechanisms within local enforcement agencies.

Authorities report seizing luxury vehicles, concealed financial accounts, and multiple warehouses stocked with narcotics. Several defendants have received lengthy prison sentences, with some facing life terms.

Despite the sweeping arrests and asset seizures, officials caution that fragments of the broader criminal enterprise could remain active. Investigations continue as federal agencies work to determine whether additional associates, financial channels, or supply routes are still operating discreetly beyond the initial takedown.