U.S. authorities bust a drug smuggling ring in Arizona...arresting more than 70 people, seizing marijuana, cocaine, heroin, cash and weapons.
Officials say their investigation - dubbed "Operation Pipeline Express" - has dismantled a smuggling network linked to a Mexican cartel that generated nearly $2 billion in illicit proceeds.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Matthew Allen.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MATTHEW ALLEN, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE FOR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, SAYING:
"The organization was smuggling more than $33 million of drugs a month into Arizona - and yes that is per month - primarily through Arizona's west desert."
Authorities say the Arizona ring operated as a major U.S. hub for Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel during at least the past five years.
The network is estimated to have smuggled more than 3.3 million pounds of marijuana, 20,000 pounds of cocaine and 10,000 pounds of heroin into the U.S.
Sinaloa cartel is believed to handle 65 percent of all drugs illegally transported to the United States.
Katharine Jackson, Reuters.
