By Terry Frieden, CNN Justice Producer
Washington (CNN) -- Federal agents trying to disrupt illegal drug trafficking from Mexico arrested more than 400 people in raids Wednesday, bringing to more than 2,200 the number of arrests from a two-year investigation aimed at cartel transportation operations.
The 429 arrests in sixteen states from coast to coast punctuated the climax of what the government called "Project Deliverance." The project combined 22 geographically separate operations which led investigators to some common transportation routes.
"There were some Mexicans, but the vast majority of those we arrested are U.S. citizens," said one DEA official involved in the takedown.
The special operations agent who asked not to be identified because of his position, said the increase of roughly 15 percent in street prices -- and much more for heroin -- was evidence of the law enforcement success.
The massive sweep Wednesday by more than 3,000 agents and officers boosted the 22-month seizures to $154 million in cash, tons of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and black-tar heroin and over a thousand weapons and vehicles.
"This operation has struck a very significant blow against the cartels, but make no mistake, we know that as successful as this operation was, it was just one battle in what is an ongoing war," said Attorney General Eric Holder.
