30 more gang members arrested in continuing crackdown in Central Valley

June 9, 2011 | 4:16pm

Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris announced Thursday that 30 alleged gang members were arrested in Tracy, the day after a similar law enforcement operation netted 75 suspected gang members in Merced and Madera counties.

Wednesday’s sweep in Tracy was part of an effort by local, state and federal authorities to crack down on street gangs associated with Nuestra Familia, a criminal enterprise run out of the state prison system by inmates using coded letters and packages.

Gangs in recent years have been menacing many small farm communities. After law enforcement conducted raids in Salinas last year, gang leaders moved into other towns. Police say the gangs have ties to drug cartels in Mexico.

"Today the Department of Justice delivered another blow to the criminal gangs that have been making inroads into California's Central Valley," Harris said.

Agents from the state Department of Justice served 28 arrest warrants and 24 search warrants Wednesday and recovered 11 guns and about a quarter of an ounce of methamphetamine. The suspects were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail.

Wednesday’s sweep involved more than 200 law enforcement officers from the state Department of Justice, the state prison system, Tracy police and the FBI.

--Maura Dolan
Email: newstips@latimes.com
Twitter: @latimescitydesk @lanow
Facebook: latimescitydesk

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... lley-.html