BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Three men arrested in Buffalo, N.Y., on drug-trafficking charges were part of a pipeline that brought cocaine from Mexico to the city, an official said.
Authorities said they confiscated more than 34 pounds of cocaine -- the largest seizure of the drug in recent years in western New York, The Buffalo News reported.
The suspects were "very busy, very active" participants in a drug pipeline in which traffickers from Mexico were supplying kilograms of cocaine to dealers in Buffalo, said Dale M. Kasprzyk, resident agent in charge of the Buffalo office of the Drug Enforcement Administration office.
"This is one of the most significant cases we've had here in Buffalo showing that the Mexican cartels are doing business right here," Kasprzyk said.
LeTorrance Travis, 24, a rental property manager who lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Luis Zuniga, 28, a Mexican citizen who lives in San Juan, Texas, were charged with felony drug conspiracy and distribution. Karl Audirsch, 36, an alleged drug courier from Farmerville, La., was accused of drug conspiracy.
Most of the cocaine had been seized by undercover agents during arranged meetings over the weekend, and the three men were arrested Sunday.
Authorities said $250,000 cash also was seized from the motor compartment of a clothes dryer in a home occupied by Travis.
DEA agents and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested the men.
Travis had appeared in Internet rap videos glorifying drug dealers' lives, officials said.
