US nets $45m in drugs sting

Dozens of people accused of working for a Mexican drug cartel were arrested in the US yesterday in a multi-state bust that has netted more than $45m (€66.7m) in cash and tons of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, federal officials said.

At least some of the drugs were carried over the US-Mexico border on a bridge made from sandbags partially submerged in the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona, authorities said.

All the narcotics were smuggled into the country through the porous south-west border exploited by cartel kingpin Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum, they said.

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

“Today’s operation is a serious blow to one of the largest and most significant trafficking organisations,” 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 US 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 12 tons of marijuana; 4 tons of cocaine; methamphetamine, heroin; $6m (€8.9m) in property and assets; and an estimated 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

Authorities said the cartel shipped or drove tons of the drugs from Colombia and Venezuela to Mexico. From there, they were taken over the south-west 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.