US cracks down heavily on Mexico's La Familia cartel (Roundup)

By Mike McCarthy Oct 22, 2009, 20:36 GMT

Washington - The United States has arrested hundreds of people in a crackdown on a major Mexican drug cartel while seizing more than 11 tons of narcotics and millions of dollars, officials announced Thursday.

In the past two days, 303 people were arrested in 19 states under 'Project Coronado,' which was launched against the La Familia cartel, one of Mexico's newest and among its most violent gangs.

'The cartels should know that we here in the United States are not going to allow them to operate unfettered,' Attorney General Eric Holder, the top US law enforcement officer, said.

Since the United States moved against La Familia nearly four years ago, 1,186 individuals have been arrested while tons methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana have been seized. Authorities have captured more than 32 million dollars in drug money and 400 weapons, Holder said.

'This unprecedented, coordinated US 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,' Holder said.

'We continue to make additional arrests as we speak,' he added.

In recent years the United States has worked more closely with Mexico to combat drug trafficking. The intensified effort by the Mexican government against the five biggest cartels has provoked bloody street battles and reprisals against Mexican authorities, including the murdering and kidnapping of police officers.

La Familia operates out of the southwestern Mexican state of Michoacan and focuses mainly on exporting methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States. The cartel also smuggles military grade weapons from the United States into Mexico to support its violent undertakings, Holder said.

Last year the US government began the Merida Initiative, which provides equipment and logistical support to Mexico for fighting drug traffickers.

'They're doing a good job,' Holder said of the Mexican government, but added there is still room for drug officials on both sides of the border to improve operations against the cartels.

Mexican officials have complained that many of the weapons used in cartel violence are coming illegally from the United States, and US officials have promised to take steps against the cross-border flow of arms.

The raids against La Familia in the last two days involved eight US federal government agencies, included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as state and local authorities. More than 3,000 US officers and agents were involved in the operation.

Since Wednesday, 3.4 million dollars have been seized, along with 330 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 62 kilogrammes of cocaine and 438 kilogrammes of marijuana. In total, Project Coronado has seized 1,330 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 1,999 kilogrammes of cocaine, 13 kilogrammes of heroin and 7,434 kilogrammes of marijuana.

'We are hitting them where we believe it hurts the most - their revenue stream,' Holder said.