Thread: Drug bust nets millions in cash, tons of drugs, 20 guns

Nov 04, 2010

Drug bust nets millions in cash, tons of drugs

12:35 PM

Authorities arrested 45 people and seized more than two tons of drugs, $2.3 million in cash and 20 guns in a crackdown on a major Mexican drug cartel operating in the Atlanta area, The Atlanta Constitution reported.

Operation Choke Hold began in May 2009 and targeted the distribution network of La Familia Michoacana, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said today. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force were also involved in the case.

Lawson said charges include conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, meth and marijuana, trafficking in those drugs, money laundering and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

John Comer, associate special agent in charge of the Atlanta DEA office, said the group is one of many drug "cells" in the area. "This particular cell has been dismantled," he said.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... of-drugs/1

Authories arrested 45 people and seized more than two tons of drugs, $2.3 million in cash and 20 guns . . .

See mexico we don't cater to your cartels like you do!

and here is the AJC story:

45 charged in Mexican drug ring
By Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Caption under photo reads:
With 1,755 pounds of marijuana in bales stacked in front of them, Clayton County District Attorney, Tracy Graham Lawson (center-right at podium) along with Griffin Judicial Circuit D.A., Scott Ballard, D.E.A. Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Frank Mazzilli, D.E.A. Associate Special Agent in Charge, John Comer, Director of H.I.D.T.A., John Killorin and Jonesboro police chief, Franklin Allen announced the arrests of 45 defendants of the Mexican drug trafficking organization known as La Familia.



Federal and local authorities say they have arrested 45 people and seized drugs, cash and guns as part of an investigation into a major Mexican drug cartel operating in metro Atlanta.

At a news conference Thursday, officials said Operation Choke Hold targeted the distribution network of La Familia Michoacana.

The operation involved the district attorney's offices in the Clayton and Griffin judicial circuits, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said that authorities seized 46 pounds of methamphetamine, 43 kilos of cocaine and 4,120 pounds of marijuana, with a total street value of more than $10 million. Agents also seized more than $2.3 million in cash and 20 firearms, "including many AK-47 assault rifles," Lawson said.

“The drug trafficking organization was operating in Spalding, Henry, Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett counties and distributed in Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana and Washington,â€