Mexico seizes USD 70 million in ore from drug cartel

Mexican officials say they have seized iron ore worth USD 70 million from a drug cartel that controlled much of the trade in the western state of Michoacan.
The federal envoy to the violence-wracked state says seizures from loading patios and ships so far this year amount to about 720,000 metric tons of ore.
Alfredo Castillo says it would require thousands of heavy trucks to move so much ore.
The Knights Templar cartel became heavily involved in operating mines, robbing shipments or extorting ore or money from mining companies.
Federal officials yesterday said they have begun inspecting and shutting down illegally operated mines in the cartel's former strongholds.

For several years, the cartel's presence had made it too dangerous to inspect those mines.