Lexington emerges as a regional hub for drug cartels; DEA says danger to average citizen ‘relatively low’

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A recent report by the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Taylor Six has shed light on a concerning issue: Lexington is becoming a regional hub for drug cartels. The report comes at a time when the city and the state are grappling with a surge in drug-related crimes and overdose deaths.

Fentanyl: ‘the deadliest drug threat facing our country’

Kevin McWilliams, the public information officer for the Louisville Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), confirmed in an exclusive email to The Lexington Times that the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) have established a presence in Lexington. “These two cartels operate nearly everywhere in America and unfortunately Lexington is no exception. That being said, the danger posed by the cartels to the average citizen is relatively low,” McWilliams stated.

“Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing our country. Nearly all of the fentanyl in the United States comes from Mexico, and most of it is trafficked by the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels.” McWilliams added.

The Role of Location

One of the key factors contributing to Lexington’s emergence as a regional hub is its strategic location. The city’s access to I-75 and I-64 makes it easier for cartels to distribute drugs to major cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta. U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier IV, the top federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Kentucky, told the Herald-Leader that the interstates “easily connect a lot of places,” facilitating drug and money seizures intended for distributors in other nearby areas.

The Cartels in Focus

The Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) have established a presence in Lexington. These cartels are responsible for the vast majority of fentanyl and methamphetamine entering the United States, according to the DEA. McWilliams confirmed that these two cartels are the only ones with an established presence in the state, but their influence is significant as they supply drug trafficking organizations and street gangs.

The presence of cartels has led to an increase in violent crimes. Special Agent Todd Tremaine of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the Herald-Leader that the rise in violent crimes in Eastern Kentucky is due to higher-quality drugs being shipped into the state. Shier added that drug trafficking is a source of enormous amounts of crime not directly related to the transfer of illegal drugs, including violence, illegal firearm use, and thefts.

The Opioid Crisis

Overdose data from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy confirms that 90% of 2,135 overdose deaths in 2022 were related to fentanyl and opioids. McWilliams warned against the dangers of fake fentanyl pills, stating that seven out of every 10 fake pills seized contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

I would like to reiterate that DEA laboratory analysis shows that 7 out of every 10 fake pills that we seize contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. This is up from 6 out 10 last year. I cannot stress enough, the danger associated with pills purchased online, through social media, or out on the street.  Unless you’re getting pills from your doctor or a pharmacist, don’t take them.  There is a very high likelihood that they may contain enough fentanyl to kill you.

Kevin McWilliams, the public information officer for the Louisville Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration

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Top photo: Aerial view of downtown Lexington at sunrise. (Faron Collins/YouTube)