Atlanta, Georgia – The Atlanta Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has introduced new resources in its ongoing battle against one of Mexico’s notorious drug cartels. Earlier this May, the DEA Atlanta Field Division launched a lab specifically designed to process federal drug cases in Georgia. According to the leading DEA agent in Atlanta, this new facility is already enhancing operational efficiency in their pursuit of the “Cartel Jalisco New Generation” (CJNG).
Previously, agents had to rely on chemists from other cities to test drugs, which could take quite some time. Now, with an in-house lab, testing can be completed in mere minutes. “It really cuts down on response time,” said Chad Chumburi, the forensic chemist overseeing the lab. “Instead of waiting a day or two for someone to come, we can help out right away.”
The role of DEA chemists is crucial; they determine the specifics of a drug’s composition, which ultimately influences federal charges. For instance, in September, the Atlanta DEA seized over 1,000 pounds of meth during an operation targeting CJNG, which was then tested at the new lab.
“We take samples to understand how they compare to what’s out there,” Chambley mentioned, highlighting the thoroughness of the testing process.
During this operation, five undocumented immigrants were apprehended, all of whom claimed they were distributing meth hidden in black garbage bags. Robert Murphy, the special agent overseeing the DEA Atlanta Field Division, noted that all the arrested individuals are Mexican nationals linked to the CJNG. “They had over 700 pounds stored in an apartment with two children under ten,” Murphy pointed out. “This is all part of their strategy—they want to blend in.” He estimated the street value of the meth at around $4 million.
Murphy expressed his concerns about the callousness of cartel operations, stating, “For them, it’s all about money. They’re indifferent to the destruction and suffering they cause.” The DEA’s crackdown extends to various cartel members, including recent operations targeting the Sinaloa cartel, which has seen significant arrests.
Since the downfall of several leaders in the Sinaloa cartel, CJNG has gained considerable traction. 2023 saw the arrest of El Chapo’s son, Obigio Guzman Lopez, and the following year marked the capture of another major figure, Joa Kings Man Lopez, in Texas.
This initiative is part of a broader DEA strategy aimed at dismantling the CJNG network. Recently, agents intercepted over 175 pounds of cocaine linked to the cartel crossing the southern border, followed by another seizure of 28 pounds and nearly $470,000 in cash from suspected CJNG members in Houston. “Every seizure is significant,” Murphy emphasized. “It impacts the entire network of facilitators to money launderers.”
