BILLINGS A top regional DEA agent said Wednesday in Billings that targeted enforcement and harsher sentences at the federal level are sending a strong message to drug traffickers and helping to decrease fatal doses.

Watch the video report here:

Cesar Avila is the DEA Assistant Special Agent in charge of the Rocky Mountain Region that includes Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. He spoke with local media about recent enforcement efforts and trends.

The DEA's most recent enforcement initiative, Operation Fentanyl Free America, took more than 9,300 pounds, or four and half tons, of fentanyl off the streets nationwide.

"The lethal doses are decreasing. So that tells us the cartels are either reformulating or trying to pay attention to how many Americans they are killing because that is br

See Full Page