U.S. Stages Major Drug Bust Amid Rising Tensions Over Border Shooting of Mexican Boy

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2010— -- Attorney General Eric Holder today announced a major U.S. bust of Mexican drug trafficking operations, following the border shooting of a 15-year-old Mexican boy by U.S. border agents earlier this week.

The drug operation, called Project Deliverance, has spanned almost two years. With help from more than 3,000 law enforcement officers and federal agents, Project Deliverance culminated Wednesday with the arrest of 429 criminal drug traffickers in 15 states.

U.S. officials said the 22-month operation snagged more than 2,200 individuals and intercepted more than 69 tons of marijuana, 2.5 tons of cocaine, 1,410 pounds of heroin and $154 million in currency.

Holder said one of the most significant developments in the operation was the May 30 arrest of alleged heroin smuggler Carlos Ramon Castro-Rocha in Mexico.

"This successful operation, however, is just one battle in an ongoing war," Holder told reporters at a briefing today. "So long as cartels and smugglers attempt to wreak havoc on our borders, we will continue to target them with every resource available to the federal government."

Today's announcement came after Monday's shooting of a 15-year-old boy at a border crossing near El Paso, Texas, where U.S. authorities were believed to be conducting anti-drug trafficking operations. Holder praised the Mexican government for the "courageous" efforts it had taken to battle the drug cartels, which have become increasingly violent in recent years as they fight drug shipment routes into the United States.

Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereka had been fatally shot in the head by a U.S. Border Patrol agent, who had reportedly come under attack by rock throwers on the Mexican side of the border.

Amid rising tensions between the United States and its southern neighbor in the wake of the shooting, Holder said, "Let me express our sincere regrets about the loss of life of that ... youngster. It was extremely regrettable. …There is a bond that exists between Mexico and the United States. We have shared interests ... those shared interests will keep the relationship strong."