With "Project Deliverance," federal agencies cooperating with local LE officers arrested more than 2,000 narcotics transporters and Mexican cartel associates in mid-June. The multi-jurisdictional operation also led to the seizure of $154 million and 74.1 tons of drugs, as well as the arrest of a high-priority target. These photos, which are courtesy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) , show some of the evidence seized in the drug trafficking operation .
Narcotic Transporter Bust
Mexican cartels are netting significant proceeds from the marijuana cash crop and methamphetamine. With "Project Deliverance," federal agents seized 15 pounds of meth.
Drug traffickers bring large quantities of drugs into the U.S. and deliver it to major urban centers such as Atlanta, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles. It is then divided into smaller amounts for distribution to street gangs that have formed an alliance with that cartel. Traffickers usually use black tape to wrap the narcotics, including heroin (shown here) and cocaine.
With "Project Deliverance," which was led by the DEA, agents seized $945,685 in drug proceeds, which is packed in evidence bags and labeled for prosecution. The cash is seized, forfeited, and then either goes into the asset forfeiture fund and/or is shared with state and local partners who participated in the investigation.
Federal agents discovered 2,371 pounds of marijuana ready for shipping in a remote Arizona field stacked behind bales of hay.
The operation led to the seizure of 2,951 pounds of the marijuana cash crop, including the 375 pounds shown here seized in Arizona that has been bagged and labeled as evidence.
One of the "Project Deliverance" busts led to the seizure of $245,000 in drug proceeds and 375 pounds of marijuana in Arizona in mostly small bills, and plastic-wrapped bales of marijuana.
Federal narcotics projects usually involve the coordination of multiple agencies and operations. With "Project Deliverance," there were 18 coordinated operations that often involved multiple cases within each. One of the 18, called Operation Four Horsemen, led to the seizure of 150 kilograms of cocaine in Atlanta. The Special Operations Division is the D.C.-based operational nerve center.