Non-Subscriber Extract
US piles the pressure on La Familia business
26 October 2009
Mexican police present to the media alleged members of the drug cartel La Familia, detained in a recent police operation in Mexico City on 22 October 2009. (Press Association)
The two-day initiative was carried out in 19 states and resulted in the arrests of 303 people. This operation was part of Project Coronado, which was launched in 2005, targeting Mexican cartel operations in the United States. With the recent detentions, 1,186 people have been arrested since Project Coronado was launched, along with the seizure of 2,700 lb of methamphetamine, almost 2,000 kg of cocaine and 29 lb of heroin.
La Familia is one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels, based in the central state of Michoacán. It controls part of the passage of drugs from South America towards the US. The group was originally a local branch of the powerful Gulf Cartel, working with other cells of the group, such as the Zetas, the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel.