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| US cracks down on Mexico cartels | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| US federal agents have arrested some 750 people across the country in a crackdown on Mexican drug cartels, US Attorney General Eric Holder has said. | US federal agents have arrested some 750 people across the country in a crackdown on Mexican drug cartels, US Attorney General Eric Holder has said. |
| Among them were 52 people arrested on Wednesday in California, Minnesota and Maryland in raids targeting the powerful Sinaloa cartel, he said. | Among them were 52 people arrested on Wednesday in California, Minnesota and Maryland in raids targeting the powerful Sinaloa cartel, he said. |
| Agents also seized 23 tonnes of drugs in the 21-month operation. | Agents also seized 23 tonnes of drugs in the 21-month operation. |
| A 2008 justice department report found Mexican traffickers were the biggest organised crime threat to the US. | A 2008 justice department report found Mexican traffickers were the biggest organised crime threat to the US. |
| Most of the cocaine available in the US is smuggled via the US-Mexican border, while Mexican drug traffickers control most of the US drug market. | Most of the cocaine available in the US is smuggled via the US-Mexican border, while Mexican drug traffickers control most of the US drug market. |
| Eric Holder said 52 suspects were arrested in raids on WednesdayMexican smugglers are also increasingly working with US gangs, the report found. | |
| The Sinaloa cartel is one of four main Mexican drug-trafficking groups, the others being the Gulf cartel, the Tijuana cartel and the Juarez cartel. | The Sinaloa cartel is one of four main Mexican drug-trafficking groups, the others being the Gulf cartel, the Tijuana cartel and the Juarez cartel. |
| The US Congress has authorised the spending of $1.6bn (£1.1bn) dollars to confront the threat of drug trafficking and organised crime from Mexico and Central America. | The US Congress has authorised the spending of $1.6bn (£1.1bn) dollars to confront the threat of drug trafficking and organised crime from Mexico and Central America. |
| So far, $197m (£138m) has been released for military and law enforcement training and equipment in Mexico. | So far, $197m (£138m) has been released for military and law enforcement training and equipment in Mexico. |
| Some 6,000 people were killed last year in Mexico in violence linked to organised crime. Mexican media reported that by mid-February this year there had already been 1,000 killings. | Some 6,000 people were killed last year in Mexico in violence linked to organised crime. Mexican media reported that by mid-February this year there had already been 1,000 killings. |