Late last week the Department of Justice announced a major crackdown on Mexican cartel members operating in Mexico and the United States.
After 16-months of investigation, 28 individuals accused of being members of the Sinaloa cartel were indicted Friday. In addition, DEA agents seized over 100 kilograms of Heroin, Meth, Cocaine and Marijuana. Two dozen firearms, $102,000 in cash and three vehicles were also confiscated. Twenty-three of the 28 charged individuals have been arrested and many were living in the U.S. illegally.
“This investigation and its resulting prosecutions are about taking control of our streets. The charges filed and drugs seized as the result of this investigation demonstrate the success of the collaborative efforts of our federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies to root out drug traffickers operating in New Mexico and throughout the country," Acting U.S. Attorney James Tierney said about the arrests. "Through today’s announcement, the law enforcement community is sending a loud and clear message to those who traffic drugs in our communities that they cannot commit crimes in New Mexico without consequence."
The bust comes just one week after Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly visited a number of Border Patrol checkpoints along the southern border with Mexcio, bolstering President Trump's message of law and order.
According to the criminal indictments, some cartel members are charged with 44 counts of federal violations. The charges are mostly related to illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.
“Today law enforcement in New Mexico and West Texas has dealt a severe blow to a drug trafficking organization with ties to a Mexican drug cartel,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy said about the operation. “Through the cooperation of numerous law enforcement organizations we have removed criminals from our communities who have been involved in smuggling, transporting, and distributing drugs.”
You can read more about the details of the individuals arrested and the extent of the charges here.