Project Coronado cracks down on Mexican drug cartel

Nearly three dozen agencies in our state helped bring in 50 wanted drug dealers part of a violent Mexican drug cartel that operates nationwide.

It all started here in the east. In December of last year, DEA in Raleigh and the Pitt County District Attorney’s office began an investigation into elements of the drug cartel “La Familia.“

After a years worth of investigating, they have plenty to show for it. Drugs, money and guns all seized from the Mexican drug cartel as part of “Project Coronado.“

DEA Raleigh Agent in Charge Donny Hansen said, “There are a couple things that happened here. One, we disrupted them with some of the seizures you saw. Two, we dismantled them by arresting them and putting them in jail. Three, from now on, progressively, we’re getting better investigatively and they’re worrying more.“

La Familia is a cartel based in South West Mexico known for its use of violence. It is considered a major distributor of drugs all over the United States.

Agencies from the central and eastern part of North Carolina, along with other state agencies, were part of last months operation that brought in 200 kilograms of cocaine, 15 pounds of methamphetamine, 200 pounds of marijuana and around 1.7 millions dollars in cash.

Pitt County Sheriff Mac Manning said, “It certainly gives you a snap shop of the national and international network that exists that brings drugs right here into our home town.“

He says a bust this big is a blow to their operation. “Not only did we catch the bad guys and put them in jail, but we also seized their assets and that’s taking the profit motivation out of what they’re doing,” Manning said.

And while the cartel may be down, their not out and Pitt County DA Clark Everett says the drugs won’t go away while there is still a demand.

Authorities arrested two Mexican nationals on November 1, in Wake County and seized 36 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1 million.

They say the drugs were headed to eastern North Carolina.