Federal authorities have arrested dozens of members of a Texas-based drug trafficking ring, marking a significant breakthrough in the largest known pharmacy burglary operation in the history of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This announcement was made on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and DEA representatives.
Operation #Richoffmeds: A Multi-Year Effort
The arrests come as part of the second phase of a yearslong investigation dubbed “Operation #Richoffmeds.” In July, 24 additional people were arrested in Houston, charged with conspiracy to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute. U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross confirmed that most of these defendants appeared in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Thursday. The remaining defendants are scheduled to appear in court in September.
This follows the first phase of the operation announced in December last year, which involved over 20 pharmacy burglaries across Arkansas. At that time, 18 people were arrested for stealing narcotics worth over $1.5 million.
Widespread Burglaries Across the U.S.
The investigation uncovered that 42 defendants collaborated in burglarizing over 200 pharmacies in 31 states, including more than 11 pharmacies in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The stolen drugs, which included high-demand medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other prescription drugs, were then transported to Houston for illegal sale.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram highlighted the scale and sophistication of the operation, stating, “This Houston-based network targeted rural pharmacies, stealing powerful drugs like Oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall to flood the streets. These criminals even crawled on floors to dodge security, but they couldn’t escape us. We dismantled their entire operation—street dealers, burglars, and all.”
Origins of the Investigation
The DEA began investigating after identifying more than 20 pharmacy burglaries in Arkansas between February 2022 and November 2023. The suspects employed similar burglary methods, used the same tools, and wore matching clothing and unique footwear during these burglaries. These tactics linked them to a drug trafficking organization comprised of documented gang members from the 5th Ward area in Houston, Texas.
Prosecutors revealed that the organization specifically targeted independent, non-chain pharmacies in rural locations. Their modus operandi involved traveling from Houston by rental car or commercial airlines to various cities, where they would conduct early morning break-ins, evade motion detectors, and steal dangerous opioids and other controlled substances.
Seizures and Impact
The stolen drugs were valued at over $12 million on the street. During the arrest operations in Houston, law enforcement officials seized 11 firearms, approximately $79,000 in cash, and custom jewelry valued at about $510,000. These items were deemed proceeds from the illegal sale of stolen pharmaceutical drugs.
A Victory Against Drug Trafficking
Steven Hofer, the DEA’s special agent in charge of the New Orleans Division, hailed the arrests as a “significant victory in the ongoing fight against criminal drug trafficking organizations.” He noted the severe threat posed to communities by the potential misuse and abuse of stolen medications.
With nearly 900 pharmacy burglaries reported to the DEA in 2023 alone, resulting in the loss of almost 3.8 million doses of controlled substances, the crackdown on such illegal activities remains a top priority. Federal authorities continue to tackle illegal drug operations as the U.S. battles an unprecedented opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 81,000 people died from opioid-related overdoses in 2023, averaging over 130 deaths per day.
As the DEA and other federal agencies intensify their efforts, they remain committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and preventing the illegal distribution of controlled substances.
