PHOENIX — Attorney General Kris Mayes and her team at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office were honored last month by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for their role in a major drug trafficking investigation dubbed Operation Double Down.
The Arizona team earned the prestigious “Best Overall Investigation” award at the 2025 National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Awards.
What was Operation Double Down?
Operation Double Down was a seven-month, multi-agency effort led by the Phoenix Police Department Drug Enforcement Bureau’s Conspiracy Squad and the DEA Phoenix Field Division’s Financial Investigations Group. The investigation focused on dismantling a transnational criminal organization tied to drug trafficking and money laundering throughout Arizona.
Agents and prosecutors successfully gathered intelligence and executed operations that resulted in arrest warrants for 25 individuals tied to the criminal network.
Attorney General Mayes commends collaboration
“The work my office does as part of HIDTA is key to stopping the Mexican drug cartels and halting the flow of fentanyl through Arizona communities,” Mayes said in a statement. “I am grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners.”
Assistant Attorney General Veronica Skinner and other prosecutors played a critical role in coordinating with investigators and pursuing charges.
Why the award matters
The honor recognizes the effectiveness of joint law enforcement efforts and sets a new standard for statewide cooperation in tackling drug trafficking. The Attorney General’s Office praised the Phoenix Police Department, DEA, and the Arizona HIDTA network for their contributions.
This award highlights Arizona’s commitment to combating the ongoing fentanyl crisis and strengthening border-related drug enforcement through aggressive prosecution and intelligence sharing.
