[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6183175,"mediaKeyId","5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa","parentId",5098647,"title","Senators press law enforcement on social media's role in fentanyl sales and recruitment; call for platform accountability","audioSeconds",364,"startMs",8226000,"endMs",8590000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa&start=8226&end=8590","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa/thumbnail_8226000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183175/Senators-press-law-enforcement-on-social-medias-role-in-fentanyl-sales-and-recruitment-call-for-platform-accountability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183175-e24eded3785c963c44f433f937ac5872/orig.mp4?Expires=1770826427&Signature=iGnGj4t50JIUvOdBGMA7Wv9NyzTlF~9iAvNu6rG0OS552mzWavuQxjqZ5UAmxpw8XoCW3D-Lz6gYqtHWynwG~7nOATDkqZZuO9~YKA7t-kegpzn~ilEtl8q89gd8YD-fTP6MhUSiOFjcp7fbT9UNJeV7vSpPIYqYOgNv5ws2iBgfCNImfksrfShoWV4mZGGlRJBQ-rUHIu9WuisVb1mW~tOdqOpAotSX-B-HaI9XhTN0JOcEi6OGXK0quM1aYewspPVaKBF6lDklF6n-eTwmA5VLrg8GTMr5aSYFGI15uAaKDoeT1fnergjpzg3eDUouVkj8btll0cQsITQbxxkkiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","Senators from both parties told witnesses that social media platforms — including apps with disappearing messages and mapping features — are being used to sell fentanyl, recruit drivers and dox law-enforcement personnel. Senator Josh Hawley highlighted testimony from a mother who lost a child to a fentanyl overdose she traced to a Snapchat message and argued for legal accountability for platforms.

Witnesses confirmed the platforms' role in trafficking and recruitment. \"Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Are involved in it,\" Matthew Allen said when asked whether cartels use social media to distribute narcotics. Jason Stevens said HSI has multiple cases where social media platforms were used to recruit drivers for smuggling and to coordinate operations. \"We have multiple cases involving human smuggling as well as drug smuggling, where they use those social media platforms to be able to recruit drivers,\" Stevens said. Jose Perez said the FBI's darknet and open‑web enforcement teams (the J‑Code group) pursue vendors and platforms that facilitate illicit sales.

Doxing and threats: Committee members also asked about doxxing and threats to agents. Stevens described an HSI employee who changed appearance and behavior after being photographed during an operation, placed online and threatened. Perez described an agent who received threats and images of the agent's children in an apparent attempt to intimidate and stop operations. Senators discussed pending legislation to criminalize doxxing of federal law‑enforcement officers.

Policy debate: Several senators argued that platforms enjoy too much legal protection and that Congress should consider liability or other accountability measures to compel platform cooperation and allow victims civil remedies. Witnesses said platform content and mapping features complicate investigations and cited specific task‑force work that tracks open‑net and dark‑net sales; they urged better industry collaboration and enforcement tools.

Outcome: Witnesses said social media is a persistent investigative challenge that the agencies are addressing through specialized teams and task forces; senators asked for more operational details and legislative follow-up. No votes were taken at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Full Committee Hearing: The Thin Blue Line Protecting America from the Cartels","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers told DEA, HSI and FBI witnesses that social media platforms are being used to sell fentanyl, recruit smugglers and expose agents; witnesses confirmed platforms are used in investigations and urged accountability and tools to respond to online threats and doxxing.","taxTitle","Judiciary: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1997,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183180,"DEA, HSI and FBI urge stronger focus on fentanyl supply chain, precursors and international money flows",5018,2724000,7742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa&start=2724&end=7742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa/thumbnail_2724000.jpg","/articles/6183180/DEA-HSI-and-FBI-urge-stronger-focus-on-fentanyl-supply-chain-precursors-and-international-money-flows","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183180-77fc887c8cf5b99bb7db8d7cb3d1536e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770826427&Signature=gpVqoKhrACGm-p~dkwcVGVHAqF~9lwm8S5R0rXZ1pqyf1kq~dS6PYmYURbRl8sUD0iORoTzJ9lYviZx-04qgg-h9-jptK0MQfz1en907-quzKIiC7Km8TUv2lX1~fJvu-eWx8bY1N-EnBs6H1w6dmyftvqs8gZGOnpYLSKAGY0zB0gmoEQMetjIK4AsIcdRKPilTMY2iWM-f8QS9y~f1zmTTJMRe1lDoP4rYKfcoBNTPBvxMQOvSEp4ejClgflNI7A115tv2O5VXbO2FAhbaU5I5lAU74oYOAvaun9ff8-GDlu1uvOK0bu04MORcWIBUWS9T-Novtxo8YXhfaK0khA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Witnesses from the DEA, HSI and FBI told senators that fentanyl trafficking is driven by industrial-scale production, international precursor shipments and complex financial networks that repatriate illicit proceeds. \"Behind every investigation, every arrest, every seizure, there's a child who should still be alive,\" Matthew Allen said, describing the human toll of synthetic opioids.

The agencies pointed to several choke points they want targeted: precursor chemicals, pill presses and molds, cross-border transport channels, and financial systems used to launder returns. Jason Stevens told the committee of Operation Chain Breaker and other initiatives that identify pill presses and imports; he said the \"de minimis\" threshold for low‑value parcels can allow components such as pill presses to enter unchecked and that U.S.-based lab sites have been discovered. Allen and Stevens both flagged China and India as major source countries for precursors and manufacturing inputs, and Stevens said investigators have uncovered domestic clandestine labs using imported equipment.

Financial disruption was a recurring theme. Stevens described cartel dependency on international laundering networks and alleged Chinese-linked money-movement conduits; Jose Perez said the FBI has prioritized tracing money, expanding watchlisting and leveraging designations such as Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and other members urged stronger use of financial authorities; witnesses referenced OFAC and the Corporate Transparency Act as potential tools to identify and freeze illicit flows.

Evidence and scale: Perez described thousands of FBI cases and expanded watchlisting; Allen cited national overdose figures and said fentanyl accounted for a substantial share of recent overdose deaths. Stevens and Perez described major seizures conducted with foreign partners, including a Mexican seizure of 1.5 tons of pressed fentanyl that U.S. investigators said stemmed in part from shared intelligence.

Policy implications: Senators and witnesses discussed tightening import inspections for precursor chemicals and components, improving corporate-ownership transparency, and increasing enforcement against money‑laundering conduits. Chairman Grassley and others asked agencies to provide additional data to the committee on seizures, precursor sources and financial leads. No legislative actions were finalized at the hearing.","Witnesses told the Senate Judiciary Committee that fentanyl and synthetic-drug production depend on foreign precursor chemicals, pill presses and international money-laundering networks, and they urged stepped-up financial enforcement and regulatory changes to stop shipments and freeze assets.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183185,"Senators and federal agents say U.S. guns are arming Mexican cartels; call for supply‑side action",2052,1712000,3764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa&start=1712&end=3764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa/thumbnail_1712000.jpg","/articles/6183185/Senators-and-federal-agents-say-US-guns-are-arming-Mexican-cartels-call-for-supplyside-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183185-f4dfcaf0e9d37dbdcca8f42c1c63db1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770826427&Signature=HGaWhzQyvZ01lg--lswCSnX~htLiazxtcEgrljFfB9lOjyJuVltEY3uA5iq6DGR1yAGQuD8xmX16GintbSt~zfy1gj-yKEVhx5YJbd2u~BoEyMAsg0EVGlI~N2quWFPPixjPpDoEDdx59ZnVR8sLidZPGEWKGe9cloCXY73PpeAKmPGoaf5kY6hwJL4XofgtJPDuZ7rjfKc7HrMxREKR7k~eD42lPdQSmtORO6v8u-vVXMjiZrI3KRmoFKzWkAxhVGJKVqfc1E3Szuz0dQsb5~3bQlu3P4T6GwoWwyzLELGc7ZOzCVC3st5P4BGYbcDuMvlkRcxVOLmYpw0wMm2h5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Dick Durbin told the Judiciary Committee he introduced the Stop Arming Cartels Act and urged tighter controls on high‑powered weapons and civil remedies for dealers who knowingly arm cartels. \"If your firearms dealership is gonna knowingly transact with these cartels, should you be stopped? Should you be held responsible? I think the answer is obvious,\" Durbin said.

Why it matters: Multiple senators and witnesses agreed that firearms trafficked from the United States empower cartel violence in Mexico and contribute to violence along the border and inside the United States. Durbin cited ATF data in committee remarks that, he said, show roughly 70 percent of guns recovered in Mexico are traced to the United States.

Law-enforcement testimony and evidence: Jason Stevens described recent HSI outbound‑inspection operations in the El Paso region and told the committee his teams seized thousands of rounds of ammunition and large‑caliber weaponry during recent operations. \"Over this past, last 2 operations we've worked, we've seized over 19,000 rounds of 7.62 millimeter ammo, over 60 rounds of 50 caliber, 400 rounds of .22, .303 rifles, 4 pistols, 1 50 cal,\" Stevens said. Jose Perez said the FBI encounters firearms across cartel and gang investigations and that prosecutions are pursued where dealers or co‑conspirators are complicit. \"If we identify any co‑conspirators that are complicit ... we're going to investigate that to the full extent we can,\" Perez said.

Investigative limits and interagency roles: Witnesses stressed that ATF handles specific firearms-tracing and licensing inquiries while HSI and FBI focus on outbound inspections, trafficking networks and financial flows. Stevens said HSTF improves day‑to‑day coordination with ATF and Customs and Border Protection. Committee members repeatedly asked witnesses to provide the committee with more granular data on prosecutions, identified dealers, and operational results.

Legislative and policy responses: Durbin said the Stop Arming Cartels Act would restrict easy access to high‑powered rifles and enable civil suits against dealers who knowingly transact with cartels. Several senators also referenced other bills and proposals discussed in the hearing record, including earlier bipartisan steps to criminalize straw purchasing and trafficking under the Safer Communities Act.

Outcome: No formal votes or enacted measures were taken at the hearing. Senators asked for additional operational data and for agencies to provide follow‑up responses to written questions.","Senators pressed DEA, HSI and FBI witnesses on the flow of firearms from the United States to Mexican cartels, discussed proposed legislation and highlighted law-enforcement seizures and investigations into straw purchases and outbound trafficking.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6183189,"DEA, HSI and FBI tell Senate cartels operate like paramilitary groups; urge whole-of-government task forces",2062,937000,2999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa&start=937&end=2999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5098647-5c55d0f4d4047e7242dffa3d7452e3fa/thumbnail_937000.jpg","/articles/6183189/DEA-HSI-and-FBI-tell-Senate-cartels-operate-like-paramilitary-groups-urge-whole-of-government-task-forces","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183189-462fae7bdf21d3ed181d180c0d326d6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770826427&Signature=PJOPCIIhK1trvxwnZvMRwJuHQ15Uo0sAgXZjZ7qG6y25566aak~uITVxjy6iX-6R1rvhxO7R0va~5nw-nYNEm8t7gzP5fnRtqvWO-SOQYrfQABx2n06KUZT-XPO9wlRdjpJj6kZmDTWNSDQUqgwlYkfk-NXvK0rsPUA5JrV4ay2ls7HkfXxDAoZOwdhaEJXkd9H9yn0sinUofq22Qb4sVzsTyo4RtlpTaYKkQ1U11FqRPIXwQUaG-JO~iFcJrrgwaXt890NITHosBB6jHDq8NRz-gtptS6Xt~CwnFtLDClJYibsPk6ITy~KLdAxaOM9tr-oTwMAVyprvxtqh4X5j1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Grassley convened a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles field division, Jason Stevens, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ El Paso field division, and Jose Perez, assistant director in the FBI’s Criminal Division, described cartels as highly organized, violent networks with global reach.

The witnesses said cartels operate with corporate-style logistics and battlefield tactics and that investigators are seeing leadership and money laundered into U.S. communities. \"We're not dealing with street dealers and smuggling mules,\" Allen said, describing large-scale cartel operations and a recent Los Angeles raid in which agents found a mural and luxury assets that investigators tied to cartel leaders.

Why it matters: Committee members on both sides of the aisle framed the cartel threat as a national security and public-safety priority that stretches beyond the border. Witnesses argued that disrupting networks requires intelligence sharing, cross-border cooperation and financial-pressure tools. Stevens described the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as a new, co‑located, multiagency effort that brings FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF and state and local partners together to “dismantle criminal networks from transportation networks to international finance, to command and control.” Perez said the FBI is using FTO designation and task-force collaboration to expand investigative tools and intelligence collection.

Agents gave specific examples they said demonstrate cartel capacity and brazenness. Allen recounted seizing more than $3.5 million in assets and cash at a Riverside residence connected to cartel affiliates, and said cartel operatives have surveilled DEA agents and informants in the U.S. Stevens and Perez described large, multiagency seizures, arrests and international cooperation that led to major disruptions before narcotics reached U.S. markets.

The witnesses sketched a multi-pronged enforcement posture that includes targeting leaders, disrupting supply chains, freezing assets and pursuing financial networks. Stevens said HSI is following money laundering conduits including alleged Chinese laundering networks; Perez highlighted joint FBI efforts that have more than 6,000 active investigations into transnational criminal organizations. Allen and Stevens also described human-trafficking and violent-crime links with cartels and said cartel operatives recruit and exploit vulnerable populations.

Committee members asked about cooperation with Mexican authorities, corruption in Mexico, and whether Mexico is more of a partner or part of the problem. Perez and Stevens said the U.S. maintains extensive vetting and liaison work in Mexico and described both longstanding corruption and an increase in cooperative operations, including intelligence sharing and joint investigations. \"We have had some successes in that space and we're going to continue and try and build on that,\" Stevens said.

The hearing closed with senators emphasizing bipartisan support for continued resources and legal tools. Witnesses repeatedly requested sustained resourcing for intelligence, technology and personnel to pursue leaders, follow the money and protect agents. There were no committee votes at the hearing; senators will submit written questions for the record.","Top federal agents told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Mexican drug cartels have entrenched logistics, personnel and finances in the United States and abroad, urging continued interagency task forces and sustained resources to disrupt leadership, trafficking and money flows.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators press law enforcement on social media's role in fentanyl sales and recruitment; call for platform accountability

DEA, HSI and FBI urge stronger focus on fentanyl supply chain, precursors and international money flows

Senators and federal agents say U.S. guns are arming Mexican cartels; call for supply‑side action

DEA, HSI and FBI tell Senate cartels operate like paramilitary groups; urge whole-of-government task forces