Thread: Multi-State Bust Nets $45 Million From Mexican Drug Cartel

Multi-State Bust Nets $45 Million From Mexican Drug Cartel
NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, March 1, 2007

SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of people accused of working for a Mexican drug cartel were arrested Wednesday in a multistate bust that has netted more than $45 million in cash and tons of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, federal officials said.

At least some of the drugs were carried over the U.S.-Mexico border on a bridge made from sandbags partially submerged in the Colorado River outside of Yuma, Ariz., authorities said. All the narcotics were sneaked into the country through the porous Southwest border exploited by cartel kingpin Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum, they said.

The 20-month sting, code-named "Operation Imperial Emperor," so far has swept up 402 of the cartel's suspected lieutenants and foot soldiers, including 66 on Wednesday who were arrested in California, Arizona and Illinois.

"Today's operation is a serious blow to one of the largest and most significant trafficking organizations," said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at a news conference in San Diego.

Cazares-Gastellum, also known as Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar, was indicted in the sting but remains in Mexico and was not arrested, officials said.

Authorities said the cartel employed U.S. citizens and Mexican nationals, who distributed the drugs in 23 states. They will face either federal or state charges.

Among the cache collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration were 27,229 pounds of marijuana; 9,512 pounds of cocaine; 705 pounds of methamphetamine; 227 pounds of pure methamphetamine, or "ice"; 11 pounds of heroin; $6.1 million in property and assets; and an estimated 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

Authorities said the cartel shipped or drove metric tons of the drugs from Colombia and Venezuela to Mexico. From there, they were taken over the southwest border and broken down in Los Angeles, San Diego and other cities before being distributed nationwide.

The drugs were distributed in Nevada, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington and Oregon.


http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... shtml?s=us

Well there's the first $45 million dollars for building the fence. That's a good down payment so START BUILDING THE FENCE BOOSH, PELOSI!

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/03/0 ... cd5ih.html

US arrests 400 in Mexican drug ring

Mar 01 2:35 AM US/Eastern


US law enforcement officials arrested 400 people and seized 18 tons (tonnes) of marijuana, cocaine and other narcotics as it broke up a Mexican drug ring, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
More than 66 people were arrested Wednesday in California, Arizon and Illinois, the department said, capping a 20-month investigation into the network run by Mexico-based Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum, also know as Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar.



Justice authorities valued the drug haul at 45.2 million dollars, including more than 27,000 pounds of marijuana (12,250 kilograms), 9,500 pounds (4,300 kilograms) of cocaine, over 900 pounds (410 kilograms) of pure and impure methamphetamine, and 11 pounds (five kilograms) of heroin.

"The Cazares-Gastellum drug empire that rose to such heights of power in only two years, fell today at the hands of DEA and our partners," said Drug Enforcement Administration administrator Karen P. Tandy.

"Today we ripped out this empire’s US infrastructure from its commanders and transportation coordinators to its local distribution cells across the country, stripped it of 45 million dollar in cash, and tossed it into the dustbin of history."

The Justice Department said the gang would smuggle drugs from Colombia and Venezuela through Mexico and then across the border into the United States for distribution around much of the country.

Originally Posted by sippy

Well there's the first $45 million dollars for building the fence. That's a good down payment so START BUILDING THE FENCE BOOSH, PELOSI!

That's what I thought! What do they do with that money, anyway?