Posted on 02/25/2009 11:50:23 AM PST by AuntB
Federal authorities arrested more than 750 people across the country in what they describe as "the largest and hardest hitting" operation to ever target the "the very violent and dangerously powerful" drug cartel known as Sinaloa.
"International drug-trafficking organizations pose a sustained, serious threat to the safety and security as of our communities," Attorney General Eric Holder said in prepared remarks at a Washington press conference Wednesday afternoon...
"As the world grows smaller and international criminals step up their efforts to operate inside our borders, [we] will confront them head-on to keep our communities safe."
Through "Operation Xcellerator," authorities say they seized more than $59 million in cash, 149 vehicles, three aircraft and three ships used by the cartel..
But the cartel's influence stretches even farther. Other organizations with ties to those cases have been busted by authorities in parts of Minnesota, New York, Arizona, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas.
According to the Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center, 230 cities across the country are faced with some form of drug cartel or Mexican gang presence.
The DEA says efforts continue to "stop the ruthless violence the traffickers inflict on innocent citizens in the U.S., Mexico and Canada."
Federal authorities say more than $14 billion worth of illegal drugs is smuggled into the United States through Mexico every year. New Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair recently warned a Senate committee that — at some point — the Mexican government may not be much help.
"The corruptive influence and increasing violence of Mexican drug cartels impedes Mexico City's ability to govern parts of its country," he said.
"These cartels are not just operating in Mexico," the attorney general said. "Their reach stretches far and wide. We simply cannot afford to let down our guard. These cartels will be destroyed."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
No mention of the fence, mandated by law.
“Operation Xcellerator”
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busts like this take a lot of planning and preparation, groundwork, recon, etc.. Can’t wait ‘til Obama takes all the credit for the operation and its success.
If anything needs a stimulus, it is forces to keep removing criminals who cross our borders with their booty and poisons.
Then, Obama would have a leg to stand on.. albeit a shaky one.
“These cartels are not just operating in Mexico,”....
%%%
And we can thank the lowlifes in this country who keep them in business.
Borders?
The bookstores?
The investigation has been ongoing since ‘07, or so I’m told.
This has nothing to do with Obama, who probably didn’t have a clue what was coming down.
The only suspicion I have is whether they acted NOW, because it was a chance to do it between presidents.
In other words, Bush may have been delaying the Feds from taking action, because he didn’t want to make waves with Mexico, but is now no longer in a position to do so. And Obama was clueless and now no longer in a position to stop the process without getting mud all over himself.
Of course he may just do step in anyway, but I don’t THINK he’s that dumb.
Agreed!
Thanks!
750 is a drop in the bucket.. hope they collected a lot of good info and data and clean out a bunch of these rat nests and the rats that scurried here.
Ping!
That’s it, for now...
It’s all Bush’s fault, except when we can quickly capitalize on a lot of hard work done under his administration and make a gullible public believe the One had something to do with it.
I guess DOJ folks thought they needed to move now, before some “liesure” druggies under the One let the cat out of the bag. It’s Clinton redux with a little Carter thrown in.
It’s all Bush’s fault, except when we can quickly capitalize on a lot of hard work done under his administration and make a gullible public believe the One had something to do with it.
I guess DOJ folks thought they needed to move now, before some “leisure” druggies under the One let the cat out of the bag. It’s Clinton redux with a little Carter thrown in.
That fence was a “silly idea”, AuntB.
“This has nothing to do with Obama, who probably didn’t have a clue what was coming down.”
I heard this story earlier on radio news, and of course they were giving Obama/Holder all the credit. I wonder if they even know Mexico is imploding?
I forgot my /SARC!
Maybe they just decided to do it according to pre-arranged timing.
I don’t know what to think about the fence, we get conflicting reports. Chertoff says it’s all but done. Glenn Spencer, American Patrol said the other night with his flights he only sees about 55 feet of the double layer fence. He said the rest are the phony vehicle barriers, virtual fence, etc.
Yes, that’s possible, too.
I can’t imagine a serious law enforcement agency going after dangerous guys and planning an operation around politics. I say, let these guys do their job — for which they are not paid a whole lot — and leave them out of the political arena.
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