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US drug police arrest 175 people Scores held in global drug bust
(40 minutes later)
US and Italian police have arrested 175 people in a drug trafficking operation involving a Mexican drug cartel. Police in four nations have held about 200 people over alleged trans-Atlantic drug-trafficking involving a major Mexican drugs cartel.
US Attorney General Michael Mukasey said the co-ordinated arrests over two days came after a 15-month investigation into the Gulf cartel. US and Italian police seized 175, some of them picked up in Italy's Reggio Calabria region, where the N'drangheta mafia run the cocaine trade.
The cartel, with links to organised crime in Italy, is suspected of importing and distributing tonnes of drugs from Latin America into the US. Other suspects were arrested in Mexico and Guatemala.
The Drug Enforcement Agency said three alleged cartel leaders were arrested. US Attorney General Michael Mukasey said the arrests came after a 15-month investigation into the Gulf cartel.
The cartel is already believed to have links to organised crime in Italy.
It is suspected of importing and distributing tonnes of drugs from Latin America into the US.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency said three alleged cartel leaders had been indicted.
Italian police say the coordinated investigation, Operation Solare, has proved to be one of its biggest operations against the mafia in recent years, and one of their most successful.
The N'drangheta is notoriously secretive and ruthless, characteristics which have protected its drug-trafficking hegemony until now, the BBC's Emma Wallis reports from Rome.
'Massive assault''Massive assault'
The charges cover various crimes, including trafficking of cocaine and marijuana, kidnap charges, attempted murder, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, and conspiracy to kill and kidnap in a foreign country. The US and Italian charges cover various crimes, including trafficking of cocaine and marijuana, kidnap charges, attempted murder, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime and conspiracy to kill and kidnap in a foreign country.
Mr Mukasey said it was a "massive assault" on the drug cartel, and praised the international co-operation.Mr Mukasey said it was a "massive assault" on the drug cartel, and praised the international co-operation.
Nicola Gratteri, the Italian public prosecutor for the anti-mafia district attorney's office of Reggio Calabria, said: "This operation exemplifies the European vision of the international fight against drug trafficking." The suspects detained in the US were arrested in a dozen states, including 43 people picked up in Atlanta, Georgia.
The US agency's investigation has so far led to the arrests of 507 people and the seizure of approximately $60.1m (£33m) in US currency. Nicola Gratteri, the Italian public prosecutor for the anti-mafia district attorney's office of Reggio Calabria, said: "This operation exemplifies the European vision of the international fight against drug-trafficking."
More than 16,000kg (35,000lb) of cocaine, 450kg of methamphetamine, 9kg of heroin, 23,300kg of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons have also been seized. More than 16,000kg (35,000lb) of cocaine, 450kg of methamphetamine, 9kg of heroin, 23,300kg of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons have been seized.
Approximately $60.1m (£33m) in US currency was also taken.