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15 Suspects Caught In Colorado As Part Of Drug Sweep

DENVER (AP) - Fifteen suspected drug dealers have been arrested in Colorado in past few days as part of a nationwide crackdown on suspected Mexican drug cartel members in the U.S. and abroad following the killing of a federal agent in a roadside ambush in Mexico.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Mike Turner said federal agents have seized 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, $68,000 in suspected drug money and three vehicles during the arrests.

A nationwide sweep that resulted in more than 500 arrests began Wednesday night as a direct response to the Feb. 15 killing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata that also wounded another agent. A U.S. marshal also died last week during a raid West Virginia.

Authorities in Brazil, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia and Mexico conducted similar sweeps.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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