COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Tons of drugs and cash were seized in a massive operation in Colorado Springs.
It was called Project Deliverance, and the amount of drugs and cash seized is mind-boggling.
There were 2,200 arrests, $154 million taken, half a ton each of meth and heroin, two tons of coke and 69 tons of marijuana.
It all started with simple drug investigation in the Springs.
Authorities are crediting local narcotics officers for getting the ball rolling on the investigation. They say local officers were alert enough to notice what they had wasn't a single small-time dealer, but the tip of drug dealing iceberg.
Some are saying it's the biggest bust they've ever seen.
"I've never seen anything like this," District Attorney Dan May said.
What started as a small drug investigation soon turned into a 22 month-long nationwide undercover investigation of a Mexican drug cartel.
"I've been surprised how much we have Mexican cartels here in Colorado Springs and here in Colorado," May said.
The DEA said the Mexican cartels often use Colorado as a base of operation because of its location. Agents said the dealers made hidden compartments in vehicles to smuggle the drugs into the country.
"Part of it quite frankly is our interstate running straight," May said. "It's a nice thoroughfare coming up I-25, and then to get onto I-70 and go across the U.S."
The operation even went international. Working with Mexican officials, authorities were able to arrest the kingpin of the the cartel at his mansion in Mexico.
Now local agents are hoping they've sent a strong message to the cartels.
"We work very closely hand in hand here, and one of the messages they put out here, if you want to operate here illegally your chances of getting caught are probably higher than other places in the U.S. because of that," May said.
Agents said the investigation even led to a change in Colorado law that should make it harder for drug dealers to launder money here in the state.
How surprised are you that Mexican drug cartels are operating in Colorado?
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