Federal and local authorities across the United States have been conducting raids for the past two days against the Mexican drug cartels which so far have netted approximately 200 arrests as reported by Jan Crawford for CBS News:
In the past two days, officers have arrested more than 200 people and seized more than $6 million, in addition to cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine and more than 100 weapons[.] * * * The operation is not limited to border cities or big cities. Agents in St. Louis, for example, seized a quarter million dollars[.] In New Jersey, they seized $1 million. And in Dallas, agents found seven assault weapons packaged and ready to be sent to Mexico.
Mexican drug cartels have supply lines, distribution networks and operational cells in more than 270 American cities pursuant to which they generate up to $50 billion a year in revenue.
Unfortunately, a Houston, TX police officer was shot and wounded in a raid as reported by Mariano Castillo for CNN:
Nash Patel, 39, was one of several police officers who went to serve a warrant at a home. When there was no answer at the door, the officers forced their way in, and in the process of clearing the house found a man in the back armed with a pistol, police spokesman Kese Smith said. The man looked at the officers, who were wearing police vests, and opened fire, Smith said. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect's condition was unknown, he said. Patel was struck in the elbow and lower backside but was in good condition at the hospital, Smith said.
UPDATE: Pursuant to the raids law enforcement "arrested 676 people and seized more than $12 million, 282 weapons and 94 vehicles around the United States" as reported by CNN: "In addition, nearly 40,000 pounds of marijuana, 467 kilograms of cocaine, 64 pounds of methamphetamine and 21 pounds of heroin were captured in the operation."
