Federal Agents seize horses at track

Federal officials escort seized horses allegedly owned
 by the Los Zetas drug cartel. (Mike Curran/photo)

From the Ruidoso News - by Chris Roberts -  Federal agents seized dozens of racehorses at Ruidoso Downs Race Track early Tuesday after alleging they were part of a money-laundering scheme involving millions of dollars in Mexican-cartel drug profits. Locations in three other states were also raided as part of a Justice Department crackdown on the Los Zetas organization. At 3 a.m. more than 15 vehicles loaded with armed personnel, including members of the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol, poured through the gates to the backside of Ruidoso Downs Race Track. They seized valuable quarter horse stock from a private barn and two horses from two rented barns. The seizures were based on a federal search warrant. The raid resulted from an indictment issued by the U.S. District Court's Western District of Texas, Austin Division. The indictment charges 14 people with money laundering. Officials with the IRS, New Mexico police, the New Mexico Racing Commission, and the Drug Enforcement Administration were also involved in the pre-dawn raid, according to sources who asked to remain anonymous. By 12:45 p.m., they had secured dozens of horses in two large horse trailers and were reportedly transporting them to Arizona. The indictment named 14 people and numerous racing entities, including Tremor Enterprises and Bonanza Racing.  Read more

Federal Agents seize horses at track