A big win for the good guys

STAGE 2 · February 28, 2007, 08:22 PM

Most of this was in my backyard so I'm even more excited than usual. And for the nay sayers, all of the narcotics came from outside the country placing them strictly within the purview of the feds.

Sting nets $45 million in drugs

WASHINGTON - Dozens of people accused of working for one of Mexico's largest drug cartels were arrested Wednesday in a multistate bust that netted more than $45 million worth of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine, 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 of the narcotics were sneaked into the country on the porous Southwest border exploited by cartel kingpin Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum.

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

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was to announce the arrests at a news conference in San Diego. The investigation began in nearby El Centro, Calif.

Cazares-Gastellum, also known as Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar, was indicted in the sting but not arrested, officials said. Authorities said his workers included U.S. citizens and Mexican nationals, who distributed the drugs in 23 states. They will face either federal or state charges.

Among the cache so far collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration:

_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.

_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.

Venison_Jerkey32 · February 28, 2007, 08:40 PM

What do they do with the drugs now?

TargetTerror · February 28, 2007, 09:25 PM

Burn them and stand down wind

February 28, 2007, 08:22 PM	#1
STAGE 2 Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2002 Posts: 2,669	A big win for the good guys Most of this was in my backyard so I'm even more excited than usual. And for the nay sayers, all of the narcotics came from outside the country placing them strictly within the purview of the feds. Sting nets $45 million in drugs WASHINGTON - Dozens of people accused of working for one of Mexico's largest drug cartels were arrested Wednesday in a multistate bust that netted more than $45 million worth of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine, 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 of the narcotics were sneaked into the country on the porous Southwest border exploited by cartel kingpin Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum. In all, the 20-month sting, code-named "Operation Imperial Emperor," so far has swept up 402 of the cartel's alleged lieutenants and foot soldiers, including 66 on Wednesday who were arrested in California, Arizona, New York and Illinois. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was to announce the arrests at a news conference in San Diego. The investigation began in nearby El Centro, Calif. Cazares-Gastellum, also known as Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar, was indicted in the sting but not arrested, officials said. Authorities said his workers included U.S. citizens and Mexican nationals, who distributed the drugs in 23 states. They will face either federal or state charges. Among the cache so far collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration: _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. _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. __________________ Attorneys use a specific analytical framework beaten into the spot that used to house our common sense...

February 28, 2007, 08:40 PM	#2
Venison_Jerkey32 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Location: Country of Origin: Texas Posts: 185	What do they do with the drugs now? __________________ Happiness is an empty mag and a pile of hot brass... I may be young, but it is the people of my generation that will decide the future of America.

February 28, 2007, 09:25 PM	#3
TargetTerror Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Posts: 384	Burn them and stand down wind