U.S. authorities bust a drug smuggling ring in Arizona...arresting more than 70 people, seizing marijuana, cocaine, heroin, cash and weapons.<br/> Officials say their investigation - dubbed "Operation Pipeline Express" - has dismantled a smuggling network linked to a Mexican cartel that generated nearly $2 billion in illicit proceeds.<br/> U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Matthew Allen.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATTHEW ALLEN, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE FOR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, SAYING:<br/> "The organization was smuggling more than $33 million of drugs a month into Arizona - and yes that is per month - primarily through Arizona's west desert."<br/> Authorities say the Arizona ring operated as a major U.S. hub for Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel during at least the past five years.<br/> The network is estimated to have smuggled more than 3.3 million pounds of marijuana, 20,000 pounds of cocaine and 10,000 pounds of heroin into the U.S.<br/> Sinaloa cartel is believed to handle 65 percent of all drugs illegally transported to the United States.<br/> Katharine Jackson, Reuters.
