Horses Used To Launder Drug Money Up For Sale In OKC

More than 300 horses that the federal government seized for allegedly being used to launder Mexican drug cartel profits are on the auction block in Oklahoma City.

Some of the 340 government-owned quarter horses auctioned Thursday at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale were bred from some of the top race horses in the country.

6/13/2012 Related Story: FBI: Oklahoma Horse Operation Was Front For Mexican Drug Cartel

Authorities allege that 15 defendants funneled millions of dollars in drug profits through quarter horse operations in several states. Most of the seized horses are from a sprawling ranch in Lexington, Oklahoma, that prosecutors say was operated by Jose Trevino Morales, the brother of two alleged leaders of the Zeta Cartel.

The first dozen of the U.S. Treasury Department-owned horses brought more than $434,000 Thursday at sale that continues through Saturday.