Federal agents swept through Dallas, McAllen, Laredo and San Antonio starting about 6 a.m. on Thursday 16 August 2007, executing 19 search warrants and arresting more than 30 people linked to the Gulf Cartel’s drug distribution network in a 2.5-year DEA investigation called Operation Puma.[1] A U.S. diplomatic cable reporting on the operation counted 32 Gulf Cartel operatives captured in Texas.[2]
In the federal Southern District of Texas, covering Houston, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, the operation produced 27 arrests and seizures of 2,622 kilograms of cocaine, 15,945 kilograms of marijuana and $5.5 million in cash.[1] The cable gave the same overall tally of 2.6 tonnes of cocaine, 15.9 tonnes of marijuana and $5.5 million in cash.[2] The North Texas branch added 277 kilograms of cocaine, 900 pounds of marijuana and nearly $2.5 million in currency, with the Thursday raids contributing 2 kilograms of cocaine and $80,000 to that total.[1]
Among those detained was Sergio Maldonado, 33, of McKinney, described as the cartel’s cell leader for North Texas and arrested without incident in Laredo on indictments for conspiracy, drug trafficking and money laundering.[1] The investigation was named for Carlos Landin-Martinez, described as a Gulf Cartel second-in-command in Reynosa, who had been arrested on 14 July while shopping in McAllen.[1] A later federal release confirmed Jason Paul Cantu was arrested in Brownsville in August 2007 as part of the same conspiracy.[3]
Cross-border operation
Mexican federal police joined the August effort, launching raids in Mexico whose targets had been forewarned and fled before officers arrived.[2] U.S. officials called the cooperation between U.S. and Mexican agencies unprecedented, while one official cautioned it was unclear how much the arrests would affect the cartel and its Zetas enforcers.[1] Prosecutors also moved to forfeit homes in McKinney and Dallas and 13 vehicles seized from the defendants.[1]
