Pubdate: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2008 The Dallas Morning News, Inc. Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Jason Trahan, The Dallas Morning News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Gulf+Cartel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 175 ARRESTED IN CRACKDOWN ON NOTORIOUS GULF CARTEL 14 Held in Dallas Include Driver in Fatal DWI Crash An unprecedented international crackdown on Mexico's notorious Gulf Cartel has resulted in the arrests of 175 people this week - including 14 in Dallas - and garnered record-setting drug seizures. In announcing "Project Reckoning" on Wednesday, federal officials also publicly acknowledged for the first time that the Gulf Cartel's international reach includes ties with Italian organized crime. Among those swept up in the massive investigation is Uriel Palacios, who was named in one of two local drug indictments. The 22-year-old faces two murder charges after police say he killed a newlywed couple on Labor Day when he crashed into their vehicle in northeast Dallas while driving drunk as he fled police. Another federal indictment targets three of the cartel's most-wanted leaders: Zeta chief Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano, Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez and Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen. All are thought to be hiding in Mexico. The 15-month operation has resulted in multiple indictments across the U.S. In addition to those in Dallas, indictments were filed elsewhere in Texas and in New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey. Federal authorities hope that operation will cripple the Gulf Cartel. Justice Department officials say that the 507 Gulf Cartel members and associates arrested in the operation so far constitute about a third of the group's membership. The cartel's lethal enforcement arm, the Zetas, has been known in recent years for brutal tactics - including beheadings and armed insurgencies against Mexican military - to control the lucrative Nuevo Laredo drug corridor. Interstate 35 is the cartel's prime trafficking route, and Dallas is its key distribution point, authorities say. Cartel associates are believed to be responsible for several slayings in the Dallas area in recent years. "This is the largest investigation against the distribution and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine in North Texas history," said Richard Roper, U.S. attorney in Dallas. The two Dallas federal indictments charged 32 people with drug crimes. Of those, 22 were arrested this week in raids across North Texas. The others remain at large or are already in custody. Locally, authorities seized 300 kilograms of cocaine, worth about $7.5 million; 400 pounds of methamphetamine, worth about $9 million; and $1 million in cash along with 20 weapons. James Capra, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Dallas, said that the operation will "disrupt the Gulf Cartel not only here but across the U.S. and overseas in Italy and in other places in the European theater where we're still doing enforcement operations." Federal agents pulled off an international coup in 2007 when they persuaded Mexico to extradite Mr. Cardenas-Guillen's brother, Osiel, the longtime Gulf Cartel leader, to face charges in the U.S. He will go on trial in Houston in March. Many authorities say the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas merged after his arrest. Wednesday's announcement offers a rare glimpse at the Gulf Cartel's reach. In addition to using Atlanta - where 43 arrests were made - as another major distribution point, the Mexican traffickers also operate in Colombia, Guatemala and Panama. They also have contacts within the powerful but little-known Italian crime gang known as the 'Ndrangheta, officials confirmed Wednesday. Associates of the Italian group as well as Gulf Cartel members were indicted in New York as part of Project Reckoning. Italian authorities arrested 10 group members there, U.S. officials said. Garrison Courtney, DEA spokesman in Washington, said Wednesday's announcement about the Gulf Cartel's efforts overseas is a first. "We've had a lot of intelligence that has shown us their reach, but I don't think we've ever said publicly until now that there's a direct connection to the Italians," Mr. Courtney said. The 'Ndrangheta has surpassed the storied Sicilian mafia and is among the most ruthless organized crime gangs operating in Europe, officials say. It is responsible for more than half the cocaine coming into Italy and has distribution chains throughout Europe, Mr. Courtney said. A weak dollar is responsible for the Gulf Cartel going global, Mr. Courtney said. "These guys are entrepreneurs," he said. "That's why they were using the U.S. to launder their money. It was strong. But they've opened a new market. Europe has a strong and vibrant economy." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake