A 15 month investigation leads federal officials to arrest 175 of a Mexican drug cartel.

The arrests were made in Italy and the United States on Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey the gulf cartel is responsible for importing and distributing tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroine, and marijuana from Central and South America to the United States.

The cartel is also believed to be responsible for escalating violence in Mexico and laundering millions of dollars into the United States.