41 indicted in Mexican drug cartel bust

Federal and local law enforcement seized a record amount of illegal drugs and drug money during a two-year, multi-state investigation of a Mexican drug cartel, authorities said Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias announced three federal indictments naming 41 people who reportedly ran an illegal drug operation that funneled cocaine and marijuana from Mexico through south Texas to the Atlanta area, and then sent cash back to Mexico.

During what’s being called “Operation Pay Cut,” federal agents and local police confiscated $22 million in cash. Nahmias said that’s a record.

“This is by far the largest ever seizure of [drug] proceeds in the Atlanta area,” he said. “This is another case of a major cartel-related Mexican organization that processed huge amounts of illegal drugs and money through metro Atlanta to many other parts of the country.”

Since November 2006, authorities have seized more than 223 kilograms of cocaine and more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana.

Agents of several federal agencies and some local law enforcement agencies tracked the drug trafficking scheme 977 miles back to McAllen, Texas — about 10 miles north of the Mexican border.

In addition to drugs and money, the indictments forced defendants to forfeit property, including a dozen personal bank accounts, a pickup truck, and two auto sales and auto parts businesses in Texas. The Texas firms were used to launder large amounts of cash, said Patrick Crosby, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

IRS criminal investigations special agent Reginael McDaniel said the seizures aim at the life-blood of the organization.

“Seizing the dirty cash and the assets of these illegal organizations hits criminals where it hurts the most,” McDaniel said. “Drug trafficking is all about the money.”

Authorities arrested eight cartel members Tuesday in metro Atlanta and another nine near McAllen.