US OCDETF Conducts Successful Strikes Against Mexico Drug Trafficking Organization

On October 19, 2004, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice, announced successful results of Operation Money Clip, a multi-jurisdictional, Special Operations Division coordinated, multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. It targeted and dismantled an international (i.e., Mexican) money laundering and drug trafficking organization and resulted in the arrest of 83 defendants. The investigation began with a single traffic stop in rural Kimble County, Texas and the seizure of U.S. currency. On the basis of evidence seized at the traffic stop, the DEA expanded the case to 43 investigations across the U.S. Operation Money Clip has resulted in 26 separate seizures for a total of $4.4 million, 2,526 kilograms of cocaine, 74 pounds of crystallized methamphetamine ("Ice"), 2.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 39,265 pounds of marijuana, and 1 kilogram of heroin...[more]