More than 2,200 people, including a Mexican cartel leader, were arrested Thursday at the Southwest border. This led to confiscated 75 tons of drugs and $154 million in cash. This may be a major attempt at striking back; maybe the most important U.S. victory in the war on drugs according to Los Angeles Times. The massive takedown project was confirmed as part of a second year operation in the new administration’s effort to combat Mexican drug operations.

Michele Leonhart, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said that “Project Deliverance inflicted a debilitating blow to the network of shadow facilitators and transportation cells controlled by the major Mexican drug cartels.” She described how hundreds of cars have been stopped with drugs and cash hidden in air bags, gas tanks, or behind trapdoors.

In a time Mexicans are being killed in record numbers along the border, it is hard to anticipate the effect that this operation will have for the future. An important goal was to focus on the cartel’s transportation networks for moving drugs as well as identifying new strategies.These operations involved 3,000 agents which coordinated there efforts in16 states.

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