Fri May 09 05:50:00 UTC 2025: **Salem Man Arrested, Accused of Leading Multi-State Drug Ring Tied to Sinaloa Cartel**
SALEM, OR – Federal authorities have arrested Heriberto Salazar Amaya, 36, in Salem, Oregon, alleging he led a multi-state drug trafficking operation with ties to the notorious Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The arrest is part of a larger operation resulting in over a dozen arrests.
According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Salazar Amaya is in the U.S. illegally and has been deported twice previously. He faces a dozen criminal charges, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and immigration violations. Authorities seized millions of dollars in cash and jewelry, along with two vehicles, during the investigation.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges Salazar Amaya headed a ring operating across five states, including Oregon and New Mexico. While he’s described as the leader of this specific operation, the DOJ clarifies he is not the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel itself. The DEA describes the Sinaloa Cartel as one of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations, a complex entity comprised of several cooperating factions, including those associated with the sons of infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The State Department designated the Sinaloa Cartel a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
Attorney General Bondi stated her intention to keep Salazar Amaya and his associates incarcerated in the U.S., emphasizing a desire to prevent their deportation back to Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security declined further comment beyond the initial details released.
First Piper 