A federal-local task force built under a Trump order took 144 suspects, 290 guns and more than a ton of drugs off the streets of greater Las Vegas.
Story Highlights
- Operation Loaded Dice made 144 arrests: 123 on state charges and 21 on federal charges.
- Officers seized 290 firearms, including machine guns, plus 1,124 kilograms of drugs and more than $1 million in cash and assets.
- The targets were networks tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, two of Mexico’s biggest drug gangs.
- The sweep opened 13 new federal investigations, so more charges may follow.
What The Sweep Was For
The goal was to break up the gangs moving guns, drugs and cash through Southern Nevada for the cartels. Officials announced the results on Thursday, October 8, and the Drug Enforcement Administration released the full numbers on Friday, October 9.
The operation began in July and ran 68 days across the greater Las Vegas area. The task force went after drug and gun trafficking, money laundering, bulk cash smuggling and gang violence. Leaders said many of those arrested held higher-level roles in their criminal groups. The 1,124 kilograms of drugs, about 2,480 pounds, included cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana.
“144 Criminals Off Our Streets”
“We are taking 144 criminals off our streets,” said Brandon Lesky, an assistant special agent in charge at the DEA’s Las Vegas office. “We stand proud of the results achieved by Operation Loaded Dice.”
Erin Burke, who leads Homeland Security Investigations for the Los Angeles region, said the job continues: “Our work is not over. Our partnerships are strong.” Sigal Chattah, the top deputy in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nevada, said the operation dealt “a decisive blow to the criminal networks” that exploit the community.
A Task Force Built By Trump’s Order
The Homeland Security Task Force was created under Executive Order 14159, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which President Trump signed in January 2025. It puts federal agents and local police on one team to go after cartels, foreign gangs and human smuggling rings. The Las Vegas unit is called Core 8.
Christopher Delzotto, who heads the FBI’s Las Vegas office, said the cartels’ designation as foreign terrorist organizations lets the task force use “different legal charges as well as intelligence.” That label, set by the federal government, treats the cartels like terror groups and opens up tougher federal tools. Officials noted that federal courts carry stiffer penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl, and federal prison terms come with no parole.
Who Took Part
Federal partners included the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the IRS, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Diplomatic Security Service and the Federal Air Marshal Service. Local partners included Las Vegas Metro Police, Henderson and North Las Vegas police, the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and sheriff’s offices from Nye, Washoe and White Pine counties.
Ty Ramey, deputy director of the task force, said “the arrests were local,” and that many cases started outside the area but tied back to activity in Las Vegas.
Sources:
washingtontimes.com, justice.gov, newsbreak.com
