Thread: US raids net 300 in assault on Mexican cartel (1,186 total)

U.S. drug raids net 300 suspects in assault on Mexican cartel

A series of drug raids nationwide has netted more than 300 suspects in a major assault on the Mexican drug cartel known as La Familia, the Justice Department says in a statement.

The arrests, carried out over two days in 19 states, was aimed at La Familia's distribution network. The Justice Department says law enforcement agents seized $3.4 million in cash, 729 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 kilograms of cocaine and 967 pounds of marijuana.

La Familia is based in the state of Michoacan in southwestern Mexico.

Posted by Doug Stanglin at 11:51 AM/ET, October 22, 2009 in Americas, Crime, Politics, Washington

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/20 ... artel.html

Anti-cartel operation nets more than 300 in USA

Updated 4m ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 300 suspects have been arrested in a series of drug raids country-wide that law enforcement officials say is the largest single strike at a Mexican drug cartel operating in the United States.
The arrests are aimed at the U.S. operations of the La Familia cartel, two officials said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the results of the operation.

Over the past two days, more than 3,000 federal agents and police officers carried out arrests in more than a dozen states, as part of a long-running anti-drug operation that has netted nearly 1,200 arrests over almost four years.

In the latest legal assault on La Familia, a New York grand jury has indicted an alleged cartel leader, Servando Gomez-Martinez. He is linked to one of the more brazen acts of cartel violence in Mexico.

In July, after a dozen Mexican law enforcement officers were found murdered, officials say Gomez-Martinez publicly announced his membership in La Familia and said the cartel was locked in a battle with Mexican police.

Federal law enforcement officials, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, plan to announce the latest results of the operation against the cartels on Thursday. The suspects face a combination of federal and state charges.

Many of the charges are centered on the cartel's operations pumping large quantities of methamphetamine into the United States, and other drug distribution charges involve cocaine and marijuana, the officials said.

Project Coronado has targeted La Familia, a drug-trafficking cartel based in the state of Michoacan in southwestern Mexico.

The cartel claims it opposes the sale of meth to Mexicans, but supports its consumption by Americans.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... ests_N.htm

90 arrested in Dallas drug bust tied to 'La Familia' cartel

07:07 AM CDT on Thursday, October 22, 2009
From Staff Reports

Federal and local authorities early Wednesday arrested 90 people in Dallas as part of a nationwide methamphetamine drug distribution bust tied to the notorious "La Familia" drug cartel.

According to officials close to the investigation, authorities raided 38 locations in Dallas during the pre-dawn hours Wednesday in what was described as one of the biggest local drug busts ever.

In addition to the arrests, authorities also seized massive amounts of methamphetamines and cocaine as well as money and guns, a government official said.

More than 300 suspects are expected to be arrested nationwide as part of the raid from Atlanta to Southern California. All of those taken into custody are tied into the La Familia drug trafficking cartel based in Michoacán, Mexico, the official said.

La Familia has been linked to hundreds of drug-related killings, including the July 13 kidnapping and torture murders of 12 Mexican federal agents in Michoacán.

According to officials, the bodies were found on the side of a highway and a sign on them read: "Come for another, we're waiting for them."Officials said that the slayings of the 12 agents was in response to the arrest two days earlier of Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, described as being the chief of operations for La Familia.

Through the current investigation, DEA agents learned that several Dallas-area cell leaders oversee independent drug distribution branches supplied by members of La Familia in Mexico.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... debf8.html

These are the people who would get citizenship with an amnesty.

Obama, Bush, Clinton, McCain, Biden, Palin, Kennedy, etc. ALL support the same amnesty.

Our politicians have sold out our country to foreign interest.

I.C.E. News Release

October 22, 2009

More than 300 arrested in two-day nationwide takedown

"Project Coronado" results in nearly 1,200 arrests during 44-month operation,seizures of more than 11.7 tons of drugs and $32.8 million in US currency

WASHINGTON - The arrest of nearly 1,200 individuals on narcotics-related charges and the seizure of more than 11.7 tons of narcotics was announced as part of "Project Coronado," a 44-month multi-agency law enforcement operation, which included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Over the past two days, 303 individuals in 19 states were arrested as part of Project Coronado, which targeted the distribution network of a major Mexican drug trafficking organization known as "La Familia," through coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement. More than 3,000 agents and officers operated across the United States to make the arrests during the two-day takedown. During the two-day operation alone, participating agencies seized the following: $3.4 million in U.S. currency, 729 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 kilograms (136 pounds) of cocaine, 967 pounds of marijuana, 144 weapons and 109 vehicles.

"The operation to dismantle the La Familia drug trafficking organization in the United States demonstrates an unprecedented level of partnership and coordination at the local, state and federal levels. We at ICE are proud to have played an important role in yesterday's operation and look forward to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to target these criminal organizations," said ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton.

The La Familia cartel is a violent drug trafficking cartel based in the state of Michoacan, in southwestern Mexico. According to court documents, La Familia controls drug manufacturing and distribution in and around Michoacan, which includes importing vast quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States. La Familia is philosophically opposed to selling methamphetamine to Mexicans, and instead supports its export to the United States for consumption by Americans. La Familia is a heavily armed cartel that has used violence to support its narcotics trafficking business, including murders, kidnappings and assaults. According to one indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York, U.S.-based La Familia associates have allegedly acquired military-grade weapons, including assault weapons and ammunition. These associates have arranged for theses weapons to be smuggled into Mexico for use by La Familia.

In a criminal complaint filed in Dallas, ATF investigators allege that operatives of La Familia shipped hundreds of firearms from the U.S. to Mexico over a 12-month period ending in October 2009. Individuals indicted in the cases are charged with a variety of crimes, including: conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana; distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana; conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States; money laundering; and other violations of federal law. Numerous defendants face forfeiture allegations as well.

To date, Project Coronado has led to the arrest of 1,186 individuals. In addition, the following have been seized: about $32.8 million in U.S. currency, about 2,710 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,999 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of cocaine, 29 pounds of heroin, 16,390 pounds of marijuana, 389 weapons and 269 vehicles.

"This unprecedented, coordinated U.S. law enforcement action - the largest ever undertaken against a Mexican drug cartel - has dealt a significant blow to La Familia's supply chain of illegal drugs, weapons and cash flowing between Mexico and the United States," said Attorney General Holder. "We will not allow these cartels to operate unfettered in our country, and with the increases in cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities in recent years, we are taking the fight to our adversaries. We will continue to stand strong with our partners in Mexico as we work to disrupt and dismantle cartel operations on both sides of the border."

"Project Coronado, our massive assault on the La Familia Cartel, is part of our continued fight against all of the powerful Mexico-based drug cartels," said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "This organization, the newest of Mexican cartels, is directly responsible for a vast majority of the methamphetamine pouring into our country across our Southwest Border, and has had a hand in fueling the cycle of violence that is wracking Mexico today. DEA, along with our U.S. and Mexican partners, are committed to strategically attacking the international and domestic drug trade with every tool at our disposal, and defeating those that thrive on the suffering of others."

"Intelligence-driven investigations such as Project Coronado are the key to disrupting the operations of complex criminal organizations like La Familia. Together - with the strong collaboration of our international, federal, state and local partners - we have dealt a substantial blow to a group that has polluted our neighborhoods with illicit drugs and has terrorized Mexico with unimaginable violence," said FBI Director Mueller.

"ATF's arrest of defendants in Project Coronado highlights the almost inseparable link between illegal trafficking of firearms and narcotics between the U.S. and Mexico," said ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson. "ATF is on the frontline against violent crime and focuses its investigative tools on criminal groups such as La Familia, which use firearms to further their illegal trade and ruin and endanger countless lives. It is alleged that La Familia used proceeds from the sale of drugs to purchase or obtain hundreds of firearms that were then moved illicitly to Mexico."

Arrests were made or charges have been unsealed yesterday and today related to Project Coronado in the following districts: Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, Northern District of Georgia, District of Massachusetts, District of Minnesota, Southern District of Mississippi, Eastern District of Missouri, Northern District of Oklahoma, Southern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of South Carolina, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Western District of Texas and the Western District of Washington. There were also arrests by state authorities in California, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia.

Assistance for Project Coronado was provided by the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Office of International Affairs. Additionally, local prosecutions will occur in the following locations: San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif.; Clark County, Nev.; Gwinnett County, Ga.; and Pitt County, N.C.

The investigative efforts in Project Coronado were coordinated by the multi-agency Special Operations Division, comprised of agents and analysts from the following agencies: DEA, FBI, ICE, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and ATF, as well as attorneys from the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. More than 300 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies contributed investigative and prosecutorial resources to Project Coronado through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 22, 2009
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0910/091022washington.htm

Nationwide sweep of 'LaFamilia' drug suspects includes 77 Dallas arrests 12:18PM CT

12:40 PM CDT on Thursday, October 22, 2009
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
jtrahan@dallasnews.com

U.S. Justice Department officials in Washington today announced the results of a nearly four-year drug investigation that targeted the La Familia cartel’s distribution network. The case, dubbed Project Coronado, resulted in 77 arrests in Dallas and 300 nationally.

Local Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration officials plan to announce more details about the North Texas aspect of the operation at a news conference at 1:30 p.m.

This week, more than 3,000 federal agents and police conducted raids and arrests in 19 states. Nationwide, authorities seized $3.4 million in cash, 729 pounds of methamphetamine, 62 kilograms of cocaine, 967 pounds of marijuana, 144 weapons and 109 vehicles.

“This unprecedented, coordinated U.S. law enforcement action - the largest ever undertaken against a Mexican drug cartel - has dealt a significant blow to La Familia’s supply chain of illegal drugs, weapons and cash flowing between Mexico and the United States,â€

I assume since ICE was involved that at least some if not many of those arrested are illegal aliens. But I bet that Napolitano et al. will use this to say "see, we're enforcing the law."

We need to make clear to her and other pro-amnesty proponents that we demand enforcement not just against illegal cartel drug members, but also against illegal foreign workers and aliens.

To date, Project Coronado has led to the arrest of 1,186 individuals. In addition, the following have been seized: about $32.8 million in U.S. currency, about 2,710 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,999 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of cocaine, 29 pounds of heroin, 16,390 pounds of marijuana, 389 weapons and 269 vehicles.

U.S. authorities hit Mexican cartel with more than 300 arrests

UNION-TRIBUNE
2:18 p.m. October 22, 2009

SAN DIEGO – A 44-month federal investigation into a Mexican drug cartel resulted in more than 300 arrests in 19 states this week, including 13 arrests in San Diego County, federal officials announced Thursday.

The operation, which was dubbed “Project Coronado,â€

This is outstanding Police work!! I can only imagine all the long hours and hard work that these law enforcement agencies went through
My heart felt thanks to all who were/are envolved.
Keep up the great work and know you are supported by many.[/i][/b]