U.S. ARRESTS 76 IN MEXICO-BASED DRUG SMUGGLING RING

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities arrested 76 people Wednesday in
connection with a Mexico-based drug trafficking ring that used tractor
trailers and allegedly concealed cocaine and marijuana with produce in
shipping the drugs to more than a dozen U.S. cities.

The arrests capped an 18-month nationwide investigation targeting the
Marquis Organization, based in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which smuggled
millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana into south Texas, they said.

Law enforcement officials said at a news conference at the Drug Enforcement
Administration the cocaine and marijuana were usually warehoused
temporarily in the Laredo area before being shipped to distribution cells
throughout the United States.

The organization used tractor trailers, with the drugs allegedly concealed
by loads of produce, and also used autos with concealed compartments for
smaller shipments, they said.

"The Marquis Organization appears to be fairly typical of today's
organizations operating from Mexico -- smaller groups that rely on each
other to capitalize on drug trafficking opportunities," DEA chief Donnie
Marshall said in a statement.

The organization set up distribution cells in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas,
Houston, Tulsa, Chicago, Wichita, Little Rock, the New York area, Newark,
Charlotte, Detroit, Atlanta, Cleveland, Memphis and Nashville, the
officials said.

Besides those arrested in the United States in various cities, provisional
arrest warrants naming 14 of the ring's members in Mexico will be submitted
to Mexican authorities and U.S. prosecutors will request their extradition
once the suspects have been apprehended, they said.

The investigation earlier resulted in the arrest of 185 individuals and the
seizure of 19,201 pounds (8,732 kilograms) of cocaine, 27,738 pounds
(12,608 kilograms) of marijuana and more than $12 million.