AG Says 303 Arrested in 19-State Raid of Most Violent Mexican Drug Cartel

A total of 303 people have been arrested over the past two days in coordinated raids in 19 states and large amounts of drugs and cash have been seized concerning alleged operations of a Mexican cartel in the United States.

Announced today by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the raids were a "significant blow" to the La Familia Michoacána, he said, describing the group as the newest and most violent of Mexico's five drug cartels, reports the New York Times.

The Los Angeles Times says a total of some 1,200 suspects were arrested in recent raids concerning La Familia Michoacána and reports that an unidentified source says the effort is the largest single strike ever made against a Mexican drug cartel in the U.S.

Additional and related coverage:

Dallas Morning News: "Nationwide sweep of La Familia drug cartel suspects includes 84 Dallas arrests"

Reuters: "Mexican Drug Hit Men Behead 10, Chop Up Bodies"