175 ARRESTED IN CRACKDOWN ON NOTORIOUS GULF CARTEL

14 Held in Dallas Include Driver in Fatal DWI Crash

An unprecedented international crackdown on Mexico's notorious Gulf
Cartel has resulted in the arrests of 175 people this week -
including 14 in Dallas - and garnered record-setting drug seizures.

In announcing "Project Reckoning" on Wednesday, federal officials
also publicly acknowledged for the first time that the Gulf Cartel's
international reach includes ties with Italian organized crime.

Among those swept up in the massive investigation is Uriel Palacios,
who was named in one of two local drug indictments. The 22-year-old
faces two murder charges after police say he killed a newlywed couple
on Labor Day when he crashed into their vehicle in northeast Dallas
while driving drunk as he fled police.

Another federal indictment targets three of the cartel's most-wanted
leaders: Zeta chief Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano, Jorge Eduardo
Costilla-Sanchez and Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen. All are thought to be
hiding in Mexico.

The 15-month operation has resulted in multiple indictments across
the U.S. In addition to those in Dallas, indictments were filed
elsewhere in Texas and in New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, North
Carolina, New York and New Jersey.

Federal authorities hope that operation will cripple the Gulf Cartel.
Justice Department officials say that the 507 Gulf Cartel members and
associates arrested in the operation so far constitute about a third
of the group's membership.

The cartel's lethal enforcement arm, the Zetas, has been known in
recent years for brutal tactics - including beheadings and armed
insurgencies against Mexican military - to control the lucrative
Nuevo Laredo drug corridor.

Interstate 35 is the cartel's prime trafficking route, and Dallas is
its key distribution point, authorities say. Cartel associates are
believed to be responsible for several slayings in the Dallas area in
recent years.

"This is the largest investigation against the distribution and
possession of methamphetamine and cocaine in North Texas history,"
said Richard Roper, U.S. attorney in Dallas.

The two Dallas federal indictments charged 32 people with drug
crimes. Of those, 22 were arrested this week in raids across North
Texas. The others remain at large or are already in custody.

Locally, authorities seized 300 kilograms of cocaine, worth about
$7.5 million; 400 pounds of methamphetamine, worth about $9 million;
and $1 million in cash along with 20 weapons.

James Capra, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Dallas,
said that the operation will "disrupt the Gulf Cartel not only here
but across the U.S. and overseas in Italy and in other places in the
European theater where we're still doing enforcement operations."

Federal agents pulled off an international coup in 2007 when they
persuaded Mexico to extradite Mr. Cardenas-Guillen's brother, Osiel,
the longtime Gulf Cartel leader, to face charges in the U.S. He will
go on trial in Houston in March. Many authorities say the Gulf Cartel
and the Zetas merged after his arrest.

Wednesday's announcement offers a rare glimpse at the Gulf Cartel's reach.

In addition to using Atlanta - where 43 arrests were made - as
another major distribution point, the Mexican traffickers also
operate in Colombia, Guatemala and Panama.

They also have contacts within the powerful but little-known Italian
crime gang known as the 'Ndrangheta, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Associates of the Italian group as well as Gulf Cartel members were
indicted in New York as part of Project Reckoning.

Italian authorities arrested 10 group members there, U.S. officials said.

Garrison Courtney, DEA spokesman in Washington, said Wednesday's
announcement about the Gulf Cartel's efforts overseas is a first.

"We've had a lot of intelligence that has shown us their reach, but I
don't think we've ever said publicly until now that there's a direct
connection to the Italians," Mr. Courtney said.

The 'Ndrangheta has surpassed the storied Sicilian mafia and is among
the most ruthless organized crime gangs operating in Europe,
officials say. It is responsible for more than half the cocaine
coming into Italy and has distribution chains throughout Europe, Mr.
Courtney said.

A weak dollar is responsible for the Gulf Cartel going global, Mr.
Courtney said.

"These guys are entrepreneurs," he said. "That's why they were using
the U.S. to launder their money. It was strong. But they've opened a
new market. Europe has a strong and vibrant economy."