DPS commends local and federal law enforcement agencies in Texas for seizing over $8 billion in drugs and cash
In 2006, 18 Texas Border Sheriffs banded together under Operation Linebacker to combat Mexican Cartel smuggling in their counties. This initiative was expanded under Operation Border Star to combine forces with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 65 police departments, 53 border and coastal counties, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Military Forces, U.S. Coast Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
This combined effort has prevented over 6.9 million pounds of marijuana; 73,428 pounds of cocaine; 1,737 pounds of heroin; and 5,987 pounds of methamphetamine from being sold and used in communities throughout the nation. It has also denied the Mexican Cartels and the gangs that support them over $8.4 billion in drug profits since this initiative began in April 2006 and $219 million in cash seized while en route to Mexico. Local and state officers also turned over 56,041 suspected Illegal Aliens to the U.S. Border Patrol.
“Drug abuse not only robs the souls of our citizens, it empowers the Mexican Cartels with billions of dollars in cash to battle each other and the Government of Mexico which has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people thus far,” said Steven C. McCraw, DPS Director.
Every day, deputies, police officers, Border Patrol Agents and state law enforcement officers in the border region of Texas risk their lives to protect Texas and the nation from the Mexican Cartels and transnational gangs.
The Mexican Cartels have become increasingly confrontational with law enforcement in Texas; shooting at local, state and federal officers along the Rio Grande River, and leading officers in over 1,928 high speed chases, deploying caltrops (spikes) 77 times to disable U.S. patrol cars and there have been 60 incidents in which Mexican Cartel boat recovery teams confronted U.S. law enforcement officers on the Texas side of the Rio Grande River.
THE RECORD
