http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03 ... 3_1_06.txt

20 arrested in ongoing investigation targeting illegal immigrants

By: JO MORELAND - Staff Writer

NORTH COUNTY ---- Federal and local law enforcement officers have arrested more than 20 people in a continuing investigation targeting illegal immigrants who are gang members in San Diego County, officials said Wednesday.

They said the on-going investigation has included agents of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and Escondido and Oceanside police.

In North County, officers were working Wednesday out of the San Marcos Sheriff's Station. However, authorities said they can't release information about the case because it hasn't been completed.


"The portion in San Marcos is done now," said Sgt. Gary Floyd, supervisor of the sheriff's street narcotics and gang unit at the San Marcos Sheriff's Station.

He said detectives from his unit, community-oriented policing deputies and two area sheriff's detectives assisted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Escondido police worked with the federal agents last week and this week, said Detective Lt. David Mankin of the Escondido Police Department.

"All they asked us to do was pick up some target (suspects) they had," Mankin said.

A spokesman for the Oceanside Police Department couldn't be reached for comment.

Federal agents and local officers have worked together on several major cases aimed at violent street gangs in the last two years in Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Escondido, San Marcos and Fallbrook.

More than 63 gang members or people who have associated with them were arrested during those investigations in 2004 and 2005.

Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 or jmoreland@nctimes.com.