Thread: 35 arrested in bust of N. California drug ring

35 arrested in bust of N. California drug ring

By The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 12:31 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO — Law enforcement officials have busted a major drug ring in Northern California.

State Attorney General Kamala Harris said Wednesday that Operation Red Reach resulted in 35 arrests and the seizure of 26 firearms and more than 135 pounds of methamphetamine.

Harris says the operation by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies has shut down a network of gangs that dealt drugs and guns in western Contra Costa County.

The suspects arrested include members of the Nortenos gang, local gangs and a Mexican drug trafficking cartel.

Operation Red Reach began in February 2009 with an investigation into the activities of Joseph Abbate, an identified member of the Nortenos gang, who was among those arrested.

Harris says the operation is part of the state's campaign to combat gang violence in California.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... drug-ring/

19 arrested on drug and weapons charges in Venice gang sting

May 4, 2011 | 9:16am

At least 19 people -- many of them alleged Westside gang members -- were arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of firearms and narcotics offenses observed at a Venice storefront run by undercover agents.

Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives carried out "Operation Villainz Ink" with the Los Angeles Police Department, targeting members of the Venice 13, or Venice Trece, gang.

“ATF will aggressively pursue these violent gangs that occupy our communities and will continue to work with our partners to ensure that they know we are coming for them,â€

This is only the "tip of the iceberg", keep going till you end up with about 290,000 gang members across the U.S.

ICE makes arrest of 20,000th gang member
March 1, 2011
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-229957.html

Contact: Special Agent Christian Hoffman, PIO
Office: (818) 265-2507
Cell: (213) 216-3622
christian.hoffman@atf.gov


ATF Undercover Storefront Nabs 19 in Venice, Culver City Area

LOS ANGELES – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced the arrests of 19 defendants, for various firearm and narcotics violations during an investigation dubbed, “Operation Villainz Ink.â€