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Today, Attorney General Eric Holder—with the heads of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives—announced a massive multi-agency takedown targeting the U.S. distribution network of the exceedingly violent Mexican drug cartel known as La Familia.

Project Coronado seized more than 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine over 44 months. Above, a seizure of 126 kilos of crystal methamphetamine from earlier this year. More images at DEA.gov.

Over the past two days, more than 300 individuals in the U.S. have been located and arrested by some 3,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials in Project Coronado, the largest U.S. enforcement action ever undertaken against a Mexican drug cartel. “While this group may operate from Mexico,” said Holder, “the toxic reach of its operations extends to nearly every state in the country.”

Since the initiative began 44 months ago, 1,186 people have been arrested and more than $32 million in U.S. currency has been seized, along with more than 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, 16,000 pounds of marijuana, 29 pounds of heroin, and close to 400 weapons. Project Coronado, said Holder, “has dealt a significant blow to La Familia’s supply chain of illegal drugs, weapons, and cash flowing between the United States and Mexico.”

FBI Director Robert Mueller added: “This ongoing investigation is an example of intelligence-driven law enforcement. We often speak of intelligence in terms of terrorism, but intelligence is every bit as vital to disrupting criminal organizations like La Familia.”

La Familia, the newest and the most violent of the Mexican drug cartels, is responsible for most of the methamphetamine coming into the U.S. across the Southwest border, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Project Coronado was coordinated by the multi-agency Special Operations Division and attorneys from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section.

From left to right: Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson.

According to Mueller, multi-agency investigations like Project Coronado are key to disrupting the operations of complex criminal organizations like La Familia. He said, “We have dealt a substantial blow to a group that has polluted our neighborhoods with illicit drugs and has terrorized Mexico with unimaginable violence.”

Resources:
- Press release

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