USA - 175 Drug cartel members arrested

[old hippie 56]

175 alleged drug cartel members arrested
By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press Writer


ATLANTA—Agents dealt a substantial blow to an extremely violent Mexican drug cartel with 175 arrests in the U.S. and Italy, Attorney General Michael Mukasey said Wednesday.

The Gulf cartel is responsible for importing tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana from Central and South America into the U.S. and then distributing it, Mukasey said.

The cartel is also believed to have laundered millions of dollars and has become a driving force behind escalating violence in Mexico and along the southwestern border of the U.S.

The arrests Tuesday and Wednesday were the result of a coordinated effort among hundreds of law enforcement officials. They were announced in Atlanta, identified as a regional hub for the cartel, where 43 people were arrested.

The Mexico-based cartel has high-level members in other regional hubs, such as Dallas, and is branching out into smaller cities such as Jackson, Miss., and Birmingham, Ala., said Drug Enforcement Administration agent William Matthews.

People were arrested in a dozen states as agents targeted the cartel's infrastructure, including transportation routes and distribution cells.

Through collaboration with Italian authorities, 10 people were also arrested in the Calabria region of Italy on charges related to drugs trafficked through New York.

"We're going after the top leadership on down to regional leaders," Matthews said. "By doing this we're trying to break their spine."

The arrests announced Wednesday were part of a 15-month investigation that has resulted in 507 arrests and the seizure of about $60.1 million, 16,711 kilograms of cocaine, 1,039 pounds of methamphetamine, 19 pounds of heroin, 51,258 pounds of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons.

Two federal indictments unsealed Wednesday in Dallas accuse 32 people of being members of drug trafficking cells associated with the Gulf Cartel. At least 22 people had been arrested by Wednesday; four were already in custody in Texas and one was being held in California. Five defendants remained fugitives, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas and the Dallas division of the DEA said.

Search warrants executed throughout North Texas yielded more than $1 million in cash, 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 20 weapons and several explosive devices, officials said.

One indictment returned earlier this month charges 21 people with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than five kilograms of cocaine. All are also charged with money laundering.

The other indictment charges 11 people with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Three of the 11 defendants face money laundering charges and the possible forfeiture of homes in Dallas and DeSoto.

Officials said indictments were unsealed Wednesday morning in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., for three alleged leaders of the cartel: Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen, Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano and Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez. All three are believed to be in Mexico and are considered priority targets by American authorities, who are working with their Mexican counterparts to catch them.

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Associated Press Writer Anabelle Garay in Dallas contributed to this report.

[jon-q]

Umm! 19 pounds of heroin,were's the other 50,000 pounds??????

Now if i was at all cynical i'd bee saying were the fuck as all the gear gone just look at the figures:cocaine>16,711kgs.methamphete>1039lbs. marijuana>51,258lbs and then heroin>19lbs! nah me thinks the atlanta d.e.a may have done a bit of light fingering.