Operation targeting Mexican mafia, drug cartels nets 47 arrests, 200 pounds of drugs in Southern California

By STEPHEN RAMIREZ | stramirez@scng.com | Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
PUBLISHED: November 9, 2017 at 4:45 pm | UPDATED: November 9, 2017 at 5:11 pm

A joint operation targeting high-ranking members of the Mexican mafia and the Mexican drug cartel yielded 47 arrests and the seizure of 36 firearms and 200 pounds of drugs Thursday, Nov. 9, throughout Southern California.

The seizures included assault rifles, 120 pounds of marijuana, 60 pounds of cocaine and 12 pounds of methamphetamine $35,000 of alleged criminal proceeds in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

“There is nothing more important for any family than securing peace of mind that the neighborhood our children play in and that we work in is safe,” Becerra said in a statement.

“We took a step in that direction with today’s arrest of gang members and seizure of firearms and drugs in Southern California.

“Today’s bust is prime example of law enforcement working together at all levels to put criminals behind bars,” Becerra added.

The operation was carried out by several Southern California law enforcement agencies, including officers from the Riverside Police Department and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the district attorney’s offices in Riverside and Orange counties.

“These arrests are a significant step in pushing back against the gangs and cartels that continue to spread crime and misery across our state and region,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said via email.

The two district attorney’s offices obtained about 30 warrants, the release said, including warrants on charges of solicitation to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, narcotics trafficking, firearm violations, extortion and conspiracy for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

The operation also featured the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation, Special Operations Unit and the Inland Crackdown Allied Task Force.

http://www.pe.com/2017/11/09/47-arre...ang-crackdown/