Six people were arrested Thursday in New Orleans during a joint operation by law enforcement agencies, including one person connected to a Mexican drug cartel, the FBI said Friday.
Three of the six arrested are being held in immigration detention. One of them is an El Salvadoran national who authorities believe has ties to the Mexican drug trafficking organization, Gulf Cartel.
The FBI said the cartel moves large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin between Houston, Texas, and Louisiana.
New Orleans Police Department arrested the remaining three who face state charges.
None of those arrested were identified, and their charges were not released.
In a coordinated law enforcement operation early Friday morning, FBI agents arrested six individuals in New Orleans, with one suspect allegedly linked to a major international drug cartel, authorities announced.
The operation, conducted in partnership with local police and federal agencies, targeted suspected criminal activity in the metro area believed to be connected to narcotics trafficking and organized crime. Arrest warrants were executed across several neighborhoods shortly after 5 a.m., with agents seizing weapons, large quantities of cash, and what officials described as “significant evidence of drug distribution networks.”
Among those arrested is a 34-year-old man whose identity has not yet been released. The FBI said the suspect has documented ties to a well-known cartel operating out of Mexico, although officials declined to specify which one, citing an ongoing investigation.
“This was a strategic operation aimed at disrupting the flow of illegal drugs and organized criminal activity in the New Orleans area,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Ferris of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office. “The arrest of an individual with confirmed cartel ties underscores the seriousness of the threat we face.”
The names and charges for the other five individuals have not been made public as authorities continue questioning and further evidence collection. Officials confirmed that all six suspects are currently being held at Orleans Parish Jail and are expected to appear in federal court early next week.
Residents in the affected neighborhoods reported a heavy law enforcement presence Friday morning, with SWAT vehicles and helicopters seen in areas near Gentilly and Central City. No injuries were reported during the arrests.
Local officials praised the collaborative effort. “Our partnership with federal agencies remains critical in protecting our communities from violent and drug-related crimes,” said NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkland. “This is a clear message to those who would bring danger into our city — we are watching, and we will act.”
The FBI indicated that the operation is part of a larger, multi-state initiative targeting cartel-linked operations in the U.S. Further arrests are possible in the coming weeks.
Officers executed search warrants on North Tonti and Mandeville Streets and Franklin Avenue.
The FBI led the joint operation involving the New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, Customs and Border Patrol agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the FBI New Orleans Field Office or submit tips online at fbi.gov.