Pubdate: Fri, 15 Dec 2000
Source: Inquirer (PA)
Copyright: 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101
Website: http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/home/
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Author: Washington Post

100 SOUGHT IN U.S. DRUG CRACKDOWN

WASHINGTON - Federal agents targeted a violent Mexican drug-trafficking 
cartel yesterday, executing about 100 arrest warrants in the United States 
and Mexico as they cracked down on the flow of millions of dollars of 
Colombian cocaine into south Texas from Mexico.

Drugs were concealed on produce trucks carrying limes, carrots, peppers and 
other vegetables, and were taken to New York, Chicago, Houston, Memphis and 
Columbus, Ohio, for distribution, a Drug Enforcement Administration 
official said.

The State Department is offering a $2 million reward for information 
leading to the capture of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the head of the cartel, 
who was indicted on criminal charges unsealed in Brownsville, Texas, 
yesterday for conspiracy to distribute drugs and assault on a federal officer.

DEA officials said he goes by the moniker "the friend killer" because he 
allegedly has murdered associates who botched drug operations. He is also 
accused of attempting to harm U.S. federal agents.

Officials from the DEA, FBI, the Customs Service, and local and state 
police departments participated in the multimonth effort dubbed "Operation 
Impunity II" to combat the distribution of cocaine and marijuana.

Now they hope to apprehend Cardenas Guillen, who is believed to be at large 
in Mexico and is considered dangerous.

By late afternoon, 57 people had been arrested, the DEA said.
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