Oregon Public Broadcasting

Federal prosecutors in Seattle have charged twenty people as part of a national strike against a Mexican drug cartel.   Tom Banse has more on the Northwest connection.

The arrests and drug conspiracy charges culminate a two-day sweep against a Mexican cartel called "La Familia." 

Federal prosecutors characterize La Familia as the newest and most violent of the five major Mexican cartels. 

Of those, this one has the biggest presence in the Pacific Northwest according to first assistant U.S. attorney Mark Bartlett in Seattle.

Mark Bartlett: "The connection to the Northwest involved a number of individuals who I would describe as quasi-independent contractors who were getting their methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin directly from California and directly from members of the La Familia organization in California."

Bartlett says federal agents searched 19 homes and 22 cars here and in California in connection with the local charges. 

Many of the cars had secret compartments for moving drugs north and cash back south.