ATLANTA AP-Gwinnett County has seen a rise in drug-related kidnappings this year, fueling fears of increased violence, federal officials say.

Mexican drug cartels move large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the country to be distributed along the East Coast, Rodney Benson, the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency in Atlanta, told The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He said drug-related kidnappings have increased over the last three months.