Stinger Led

By Michael Webster: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER September 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. PT

Massive international secret law enforcement task force operation now reveled for the first time is called "Project Reckoning" and the U.S. government says has led to the arrest of more than 500 people in the United States, Mexico and Italy with more expected. "Project Reckoning" a multi-agency law enforcement effort led by the DEA, went to the largest drug cartels in Mexico and the U.S. and their distribution networks international.

175 of the 500 arrested are believed members of the Gulf Cartel drug trafficking in Mexico. Among those indicted are three of the alleged leaders of the Gulf Cartel: Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen, Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano and Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez. These individuals, each designated as Consolidated priority for the Organization (CPOTs) by the Organized Crime Drug enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), have been indicted in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia on charges that they conspired to import drugs into the U.S. from Mexico. A CPOT designation is reserved for significant narcotics traffickers that are believed to be the leaders of drug trafficking organizations responsible for importation of large quantities of drugs in the United States.

During the arrest of law enforcement officials reported seizing more than $ 60 million USD and more than 40 tons of illicit drugs from Mexican cartel only drug.

The investigative efforts in Project Reckoning were coordinated by the Justice Department's Special Operations Division, DEA, FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Marshals Service, and attorneys for Narcotics and Dangerous Criminal Division of the Drug Section. More than 200 federal, state, local and foreign agencies, enforcement of investigative and prosecutorial resources contributed by Project Reckoning OCDETF. Meaningful assistance was also provided by a coalition of international investigative agencies spearheaded by DEA offices located in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Italy with the help of their foreign counterparts in each of these countries.

The Gulf Cartel is responsible for transporting multi-ton quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana from Colombia, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico to the United States, as well as the distribution of those narcotics within the United States. The Gulf Cartel is also believed to be responsible for laundering millions of dollars in the product crime. Those accused in the case are accused of various crimes including: drug trafficking charges related to cocaine and marijuana, solicitation and conspiracy to kidnap, attempted murder, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, conspiracy to kill and kidnap in a foreign country interstate and foreign travel in organized crime, money laundering and related crimes.

"By spreading dangerous drugs and resorting to brutal violence, the international drug cartels pose a unique threat both here and abroad, "said Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey. "The scope of the threat demands a deliberate and sustained response and the success we have had, as the demolition announced today, is due to the joint efforts of federal, state, local and international law enforcement. Although I am pleased with the efforts made so far, we can not and will not rest on these successes. The threat posed by international drug cartels is too great. It will take us all working together to prevail. "

"We have successfully completed an emphatic, coordinated and massive assault on the powerful and extremely violent Gulf Cartel, "said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart." We have arrested to U.S. cell heads, stripped the cartel of $ 60 million in cash, imprisoned their brutal murderers, and significantly disrupted their infrastructure USA. DEA will continue our relentless attack against this cartel, in order to dismantle them and stop the violence they inflict on Southwest border communities. "

According to the indictment to date, Project Reckoning has resulted in the arrest of 507 persons and the seizure of approximately 60.1 million U.S. dollars in U.S. currency, 16,711 kilograms of cocaine, 1,039 pounds of methamphetamine, 19 kilos of heroin, 51,258 pounds of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons.

Project Reckoning, a 15-month investigation, combined into a centrally coordinated effort several multi-district enforcement operations that all persons involved with close ties to the Gulf cartel. Operation Dos Equis, Operation Vertigo, Operation Stinger, and Operation of the Family and as numerous local operations combined to form the secret operation "Project Reckoning".

The research efforts in Project Reckoning were coordinated by the Justice Department's Special Operations Division, DEA, FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, United States Service U.S. Marshals and attorneys of Narcotics and Dangerous Criminal Division Drug Section. More than 200 federal, state, local and foreign agencies of enforcement contributed investigative resources and prosecutorial Project Reckoning through the OCDETF. Meaningful assistance was also provided by a coalition of international investigative agencies spearheaded by the DEA offices located in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Italy with the help of their foreign counterparts in each of these countries.

For articles with: Google or go to: www.lagunajournal.com

Sources:

U.S. Department of Justice

DEA

FBI

Mexico's Attorney General Office.

About the Author:

America's leading authority on Venture Capital/Equity Funding. A trustee on some of the nations largest trade Union funds. A noted Author, Lecturer, Educator, Emergency Manager, Counter-Terrorist, War on Drugs and War on Terrorist Specialist, Business Consultant, Newspaper Publisher. Radio News caster. Labor Law generalist, Teamster Union Business Agent, General Organizer, Union Rank and File Member Grievances Representative, NLRB Union Representative, Union Contract Negotiator, Workers Compensation Appeals Board Hearing Representative. Investigative Reporter for print, electronic and on-line News Agencies.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Project Reckoning Delivers Huge Blow to Mexican Drug Cartels

Stinger Led

Stinger Led