About $60 million in cash and property has been seized from members of the Cuban Mafia, who have been indicted on racketeering and gambling charges.

BY LARRY LEBOWITZ

Miami-Dade police detectives and IRS agents are unearthing hundreds of bank accounts -- containing millions of dollars -- that they say are connected to purported ''Cuban Mafia'' godfather Jose Miguel Battle Sr., his son and their associates.

The Battles and 23 others were indicted last week on racketeering and gambling charges dating to the 1960s.

Prosecutors are trying to recoup more than $1.5 billion from their organization, known as ''The Corporation'' -- essentially every penny allegedly generated from illegal bolita lotteries, drug trafficking and other crimes over the past four decades.

The indictment detailed nearly 60 personal and business bank accounts, more than 30 pieces of real estate and a few mortgages and life insurance policies linked to the defendants.

UNEARTHED

But sources familiar with the investigation said that hundreds of additional accounts have been unearthed since agents started serving search warrants on several Miami area banks in conjunction with the arrests last Thursday.

Federal prosecutors moved to freeze and seize an additional 200 accounts that were discovered at Ocean Bank.

The sources said the Ocean Bank accounts cumulatively hold approximately $11 million -- bringing the total amount of cash and property seized to date at about $60 million.

''We're far shy of $1.5 billion -- but $60 million ain't bad. And we're still looking,'' one source said.

An Ocean Bank spokeswoman said client confidentiality rules prevent the company from commenting.

Battle Sr. will be represented by court-appointed counsel because the government has seized everything he might own.

U.S. Magistrate Stephen T. Brown appointed Battle's longtime attorney, Jack Blumenfeld, to represent the defendant, referred to as ''El Padrino'' in the indictment. Battle, who is in a wheelchair, suffers from kidney and liver failure, diabetes, cardiac problems and recently had gallstones removed.

'BAD WALK'

Blumenfeld, who has represented Battle since 1978, said the case is filled with ancient history and old allegations.

''It's a bad walk down memory lane,'' Blumenfeld said. "He hasn't been active in 20 years. They're throwing stuff at him that's ancient.''

The man identified as the current leader of The Corporation, Jose Miguel Battle Jr., 51, of Key Biscayne, was arrested early Monday when the U.S. Coast Guard delivered him to waiting Miami-Dade detectives and federal marshals in Miami Beach.

The younger Battle, known as Miguelito, was detained last week while enjoying a Caribbean cruise vacation. He was held on a guided missile cruiser, then flown to Guantanamo, where he was picked up by the Miami-based Coast Guard vessel for delivery to authorities here.

All 25 defendants named in the indictment are now in custody. Several, including both Battles, are being held without bond pending hearings over the next week.

Herald business staff writer Gregg Fields contributed to this report.