U.S. arrests 300 in raids on Mexican drug cartel
source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE59L4J120091022
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcement agencies arrested 303 people in 19 states over the past two days in a strike against the distribution network of a major Mexican drug trafficking cartel, officials said on Thursday.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the sweep against networks of the La Familia Michoacana cartel in the United States was the largest U.S. law enforcement action ever taken against Mexican drugs gangs, involving more than 3,000 federal, state and local lawmen.
"Today we have all taken a step forward to disrupt a group that hides behind a shield of ideology while terrorizing communities in Mexico and peddling drugs in our neighborhoods here in the United States," FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Mueller said the "La Familia" has transformed in recent years "from a drug cartel to a sophisticated criminal organization" based in southwestern Mexico.
Holder said the arrests were part of a 44-month investigation known as "Project Coronado," which has led to the detention of nearly 1,200 people on drug-related charges and the seizure of more than 11.7 tons of illegal narcotics.
Officials described La Familia as a particularly violent drug trafficking cartel based in the state of Michoacan.
"For those of you who aren't familiar with La Familia, it is the newest and most violent of the five Mexican drug cartels," Holder told a news conference.
"The sheer level and depravity of violence that this cartel has exhibited far exceeds what we have, unfortunately, become accustomed to from other cartels," he added.
While based in Mexico, the group's operations stretch far into the United States, Holder said.
"That's why we are hitting them where it hurts the most -- their revenue stream. By seizing their drugs and upending their supply chains, we have disrupted their 'business as usual' state of operations," he said.
In addition to the arrests, authorities have seized more than $32 million in U.S. currency since the start of Coronado and confiscated more than 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and 29 pounds of heroin.
Over the past two days alone they seized $3.4 million in U.S. currency, 730 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly 400 weapons, including a homemade grenade, Holder said.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the sweep against networks of the La Familia Michoacana cartel in the United States was the largest U.S. law enforcement action ever taken against Mexican drugs gangs, involving more than 3,000 federal, state and local lawmen.
"Today we have all taken a step forward to disrupt a group that hides behind a shield of ideology while terrorizing communities in Mexico and peddling drugs in our neighborhoods here in the United States," FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Mueller said the "La Familia" has transformed in recent years "from a drug cartel to a sophisticated criminal organization" based in southwestern Mexico.
Holder said the arrests were part of a 44-month investigation known as "Project Coronado," which has led to the detention of nearly 1,200 people on drug-related charges and the seizure of more than 11.7 tons of illegal narcotics.
Officials described La Familia as a particularly violent drug trafficking cartel based in the state of Michoacan.
"For those of you who aren't familiar with La Familia, it is the newest and most violent of the five Mexican drug cartels," Holder told a news conference.
"The sheer level and depravity of violence that this cartel has exhibited far exceeds what we have, unfortunately, become accustomed to from other cartels," he added.
While based in Mexico, the group's operations stretch far into the United States, Holder said.
"That's why we are hitting them where it hurts the most -- their revenue stream. By seizing their drugs and upending their supply chains, we have disrupted their 'business as usual' state of operations," he said.
In addition to the arrests, authorities have seized more than $32 million in U.S. currency since the start of Coronado and confiscated more than 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and 29 pounds of heroin.
Over the past two days alone they seized $3.4 million in U.S. currency, 730 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly 400 weapons, including a homemade grenade, Holder said.
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jswiz
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wheres the weed.?
- 2 years ago
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jswiz
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delas78
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"Over the past two days alone they seized $3.4 million in U.S. currency"
And that money goes where??
- 2 years ago
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delas78
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sidewaysclyde
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delas78:
good question
- 2 years ago
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sidewaysclyde
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jswiz
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delas78:
its now the property of the DEA
- 2 years ago
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jswiz
