Sweeping arrests target Mexican drug cartels

By DEVLIN BARRETT, The Associated Press
9:34 a.m. February 25, 2009

WASHINGTON — Federal agents have rounded up more than 700 suspects in a wide-ranging crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating inside the United States.

A law enforcement official familiar with the sweep said the arrests culminated in a series of Drug Enforcement Administration raids Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from one end of the country to the other. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because authorities were still gathering evidence.

Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce results of the crackdown at an afternoon news conference in Washington.

Kidnappings, killings and other violence related to the cross-border drug trade have escalated as heavily armed gangs battle for turf on the doorstep of the U.S. narcotics market.

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