US law enforcement officials arrested 400 people and seized 18 tons (tonnes) of marijuana, cocaine and other narcotics as it broke up a Mexican drug ring, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. More than 66 people were arrested Wednesday in California, Arizon and Illinois, the department said, capping a 20-month investigation into the network run by Mexico-based Victor Emilio Cazares-Gastellum, also know as Victor Emilio Cazares-Salazar.
Justice authorities valued the drug haul at 45.2 million dollars, including more than 27,000 pounds of marijuana (12,250 kilograms), 9,500 pounds (4,300 kilograms) of cocaine, over 900 pounds (410 kilograms) of pure and impure methamphetamine, and 11 pounds (five kilograms) of heroin.
"The Cazares-Gastellum drug empire that rose to such heights of power in only two years, fell today at the hands of DEA and our partners," said Drug Enforcement Administration administrator Karen P. Tandy.
"Today we ripped out this empires US infrastructure from its commanders and transportation coordinators to its local distribution cells across the country, stripped it of 45 million dollar in cash, and tossed it into the dustbin of history."
The Justice Department said the gang would smuggle drugs from Colombia and Venezuela through Mexico and then across the border into the United States for distribution around much of the country.
