National Drug Ring Take-Down Nets 13 Arrests in Nashville

The national take-down of a Mexican drug ring led to 13 arrests in Nashville. Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday the arrest of 300 alleged members or associates of the La Familia cartel.

Law enforcement officials believe La Familia is heavily armed and uses violence to support drug trafficking. The indictments against 13 suspected members of the drug ring in Nashville say officers found weapons, ammunition and bullet proof vests at two residences, in addition to nine packages of cocaine and 40-pounds of marijuana.

If found guilty, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. All are in federal custody and could be charged up to $4 million in fines.

In an operation dubbed “Project Coronado,” $3.4 million and 144 weapons have been seized in the last two days. Law enforcement officials have also confiscated 62 kilograms of cocaine, nearly a thousand pounds of marijuana and more than 700 pounds of methamphetamine. The La Familia cartel is believed to be philosophically opposed to the sale of meth to Mexicans, and instead ships it to the U.S.

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