Inside the U.S. Mexican Drug Ring Raids

(CBS)  They didn't knock. They didn't have to. From California's Central Valley to Atlanta's suburbs, they hit hard and fast before dawn - part of the biggest DEA operation in history - against a single Mexican drug cartel called La Familia.

CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann reports the raids capped a 44-month investigation named Project Coranado. Agents arrested nearly 1,200 people, including 303 in the last two days.

They seized 2,730 pounds of methamphetamine, just under 2,000 kilos of cocaine, and $33 million in cash.

Exclusive CBS News Footage of Drug Raids
Project Coronado Details from the FBI
Exclusive: Drug Cartels in Atlanta

"The toxic reach of its operations extends to almost every state within our own country," said Attorney General Eric Holder.

CBS News exclusively followed agents on a series of raids.

In a house in Atlanta, they found kilos of cocaine hidden in a boxspring. More kilos of cocaine were found hidden in the bathroom walls.

Three pounds of crystal meth were found in plastic tubs. La Familia exports more crystal meth to the U.S. than any other drug cartel.

DEA Agent Steve Whipple led the raid in Atlanta. "They make money. They send it back to families in Mexico. Buy more dope. It's what they do," he said.

In suburban neighborhoods outside Atlanta, drug cartels hide in plain sight, in so called "stash houses."

"This is a drug stash. There are other houses they use for money," said Atlanta Field Division DEA Special Agent Rodney Benson. "There's other ones we've seen that they use to bring people in as kidnapping houses."

In one house alone, agents hauled away eight kilos of cocaine and five pounds of meth. Street value? More than a million dollars.

What appears to be an average suburban home was actually a massive methamphetamine conversion lab. The mixing chemicals inside were so volatile, at first everyone kept back a block. The house could blow sky high.

Agents in protective suits carefully removed buckets of volatile meth oil and acetone. There was so much meth, in so many stages, that even agents were startled.

"Every large city, every medium city, every small city - you look and say 'who are the wholesale suppliers of meth, marijuana cocaine and heroin,'" asked Benson. "It's Mexican organized crime."


For more information:

Drug Enforcement Administration
Justice Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

[AttentionDeficit]

"Our country needs these brave agencies to defend against the hardened, violent, and ruthless criminals who are behind these drug cartels."


Sort of like with Al Capone?

[AttentionDeficit]

by exaf74 October 22, 2009 6:55 PM EDT
I for one dont like or condone any type of drug activity; growing it, making it, selling it or even using it


Even alcohol, tobacco and caffeine?

[berlinfoto-2009]

If you have a solution in mind, that you wish to implement, but not enough problems to convince the senators and representatives, to adopt your solution, then the answer is simple. "CREAT MORE PROBLEMS". This is exactly what the Federal Police Agencies have done. THEY THE FEDERAL POLICE AGENCIES CREATED THE DRUG PROBLEM.
Today the United States is a Perfect Police State, I say Perfect because you are not able to see that it is indeed a police state.
Many other Problems have been Created as well, to accomplish small steps in this GRAND SCEME, How did we get HOMELAND SECURITY?
Not all people want freedom, the enemy may be your next door neighbor, the enemy is extremely well entrenched in the Government of the U.S. and the Nation as a whole.

[redskins_no_snyder]

"The Federal Police Agencies Created the Problem" --- I see where you might be going with this although you didn't explain it well at all. THESE PEOPLE were actually chopping heads off innocent civilians, so please don't talk to me about your higher ideals. Your statement is EXTREMELY naive and I would venture to guess that you are a regular drug user. Our country needs these brave agencies to defend against the hardened, violent, and ruthless criminals who are behind these drug cartels.

[KHLady7]

I'm okay with this because no pot was found. All the other drugs ruin lives, especially meth. Let people smoke pot and start building more rehab places for those into drugs...stop arresting people.

[thesevenveils]

Let us make this clear. These Mexican mobsters and their drugs didn't appear over night. While George Bush spent his wad busting Tommy Chong for his son's bong business, The Mexican gangsters were moving into his old Texas neighborhood.

There is a big similarity to the way he invaded Iraq to attack al Qaeda that fled into Pakistan.

[vancouverboo]

Has the Congressional Latino Conference or La Raza claimed these raids were racially motivated yet?

[american_11-2009]

Our government fails the most basic and primary task & duty of government, to protect this Nation and its Citizens from invasion and enforce its laws.
Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 30 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV Section IV of our Constitution.
This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!
Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens at an rate the terrorist can only dream about.
Recent statements in Mexico from both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary something needs to be done. "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers, and civilians," Hillary whined.
But no mention, whines, concern or care that their refusal to stop the Massive Invasion of Illegal Aliens pouring across our borders or enforce our immigration laws that causes an estimated 25 Americans deaths per day and 10,s of thousands victims of Assault, Robberies, Rapes, Identify thief, and other assorted crimes committed by the invading horde of Illegal Aliens from Mexico on American citizens each year!
It is a telling indictment & shows their Empathy & Compassion of our Politicians & their priorities are not for the American citizens when they express more concern over Mexicans deaths mostly connected to the Drug trade, than the murders, havoc & crimes of Illegal Aliens against American Citizens!
The Democrats view the invading horde of Criminals and Uneducated third world rejects as Undocumented Welfare Democrats & the Republicans as Undocumented Slave labor for their Pay Masters in the Chamber of Commerce & Businesses!
Most of our Politicians in Wash. DC are wading knee deep in innocent American blood and suffering because they put Self Interest ahead of the interest of American Citizens & the future of this Nation!
The Citizens of this Nation have not sacrificed with blood, sweat & tears for over 200 years & obeyed the Laws of the land, paid the taxes, and fought the wars & built this Nation to see Corrupt politicians turn this Nation into the United States of Mexico without a shot being fired, to serve their demented, nefarious goals and lust for power!

[billpl-2009]

american_11-2009

be careful when you step off your soapbox

.....it's a long way down

[billpl-2009]

the only dope I see here are the ones with "DEA" written on their backs


all the money we pay for drug wars, police, courts, prisons, etc, etc....

we could afford to put up a Drug, Alcohol and Smoking rehab center on a every major street corner in the US

Instead we fight the dealers and give money to the junkie's we don't lock up

...go figure

[thesevenveils]

There were more than 800,000 arrests for marijuana possession in 20008.
More than any other arrests for possession of any other drug.

[billpl-2009]

why am I so NOT impressed?

[Liberity1776]

This is all B.S.
The Congress passes "drug" laws, Lawers becomes Judges!
It feed the Prisons.
It's lots of money!
Union jobs builds the new prisons.
The "bankers" feed the funds for all side.
We BAIL out the bankers!
"Want some pretty paper for you GOLD!" (1913)
Welcome to America.
The slave trade!

[she3005]

This is so ridiculous. More waste of our money. No one's going to come out of the woodwork to get help for addiction when there is fear of being jailed. We have so many more people in our jails compared to other first world countries for this consensual crime. In the meantime demand does not go away. It's about time we come out of this medieval state of being.