Mar.17, 2010, 9:26pm

A United States Attorney announced Wednesday 17 people have been charged with drug-trafficking and money laundering. Sixteen of those charged have been arrested.

Several offices and agencies teamed up for the bust. Officers from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso, Texas Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Officals say those charged trafficked huge amounts of cocaine and marijuana from El Paso to Milwaukee. The operation would go through Oklahoma CIty. Then would send the cash made off the drugs back to El Paso.

“These charges are the result of an aggressive, multi-state, coordinated approach to eradicate drug trafficking organizations from the streets of Milwaukee down to and across the border. Anyone who assists these organizations, whether through selling or transporting drugs or laundering their money, will be held accountable," United States Attorney James L. Santelle said.

The charges are punisable by up to life in prison, and a $4,000,000 dollar fine.