Horses tied to drug cartel in New Mexico auctioned in Oklahoma

More than 300 horses that the federal government says were bought and trained as part of a Mexican drug cartel’s money-laundering operation are being auctioned in Oklahoma City.

Some of the 340 quarter horses auctioned Thursday at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale were bred from some of the country’s top racehorses.

Authorities say 15 people charged in the case funneled millions of dollars in drug profits through quarter horse operations in several states. Most of the horses that were seized came from a sprawling ranch in Lexington, Okla., that prosecutors say was run by Jose Trevino Morales, the brother of two alleged leaders of the Zeta Cartel.

The sale of the first dozen horses netted the U.S. Treasury Department more than $434,000 Thursday. The sale continues through Saturday