MORE THAN 30 ARRESTED IN MULTI-AGENCY OPERATION

Thirty-two people were arrested Tuesday on drug and money laundering
charges as part of a multi-agency task force operation that stretched
from Texas to Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney's office in Knoxville said.

Two other people were arrested on Monday after 34 were indicted by a
federal grand jury Sept. 3 on charges of conspiracy to distribute
marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, and money laundering.

The drug ring had collected almost $5 million in drug trafficking and
money laundering, U.S. Attorney Harry S. Mattice Jr. said.

The FBI operation called "Westward Ho" was the culmination of a
two-year investigation that revealed drugs being smuggled from
McAllen, Texas, to Tennessee, said Joe Clark, special agent in charge
of the Knoxville office.

Raids were made in eastern Knox County and Morristown on Tuesday,
Clark said. Authorities found 70 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of
one indicted individual's car, Clark said.

About 300 pounds of marijuana and $100,000 cash was seized overall
during the raids, Clark said.

The FBI, IRS and the DEA were among several agencies participating in
the operation, officials said.

Morristown is located about 40 miles northeast from Knoxville.