Local
Denver drug sweep nets 107 arrests as fentanyl deaths continue to mount
A 10-week joint operation by Denver police and the DEA led to 107 arrests and the seizure of more than 223 pounds of drugs, along with 23 firearms and about $200,000. City health officials reported 137 fentanyl-involved deaths in Denver during the first five months of 2026.
Denver police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration say a 10-week enforcement effort aimed at disrupting local drug sales resulted in 107 arrests and the seizure of 223.16 pounds of drugs.
The operation, called Overdose Intercept, involved more than 112 enforcement actions, according to the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division. Authorities said the drugs seized included fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin. Officers also recovered 23 firearms and about $200,000 in cash.
Police and the DEA said the effort was intended to reduce overdoses and deaths by targeting drug dealers and removing potentially lethal fentanyl from circulation. The agencies did not provide details on the charges or legal status of those arrested.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said in a statement that overdose deaths affect families and communities, and described the partnership as a way to disrupt drug distribution and protect people at risk.
The enforcement effort comes amid a continuing toll from fentanyl. The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment reported that 137 deaths in the city during the first five months of 2026 were confirmed to involve the drug. In 2025, 563 people in Denver died from drug-related causes, according to the department.
DEA Rocky Mountain Division acting Special Agent in Charge Miguel Chino said the agency valued its partnership with Denver police and aims to remove fentanyl and people involved in its distribution from the streets.
Denver police said residents can share information about suspected drug sales or networks with Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tips can be submitted anonymously.