Massive California gang takedown targeting the Mexican Mafia nets 67 arrests
January 15, 2017



On Thursday morning, police in Southern California wrapped up a six-month investigation — named “Operation Bad Blood” — which targeted two gangs working in San Bernardino County culminating in a massive gang takedown.

The operation concluded with the arrests of 67 individuals, 35 of whom were taken into custody on Thursday.

Authorities also recovered a variety of weapons, ammunition, prescription drugs, meth, heroin, and cocaine during the bust.

The warrants were executed in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties.



Operation Bad Blood targeted the Mexican Mafia and known affiliates

One individual who was apprehended on Thursday ended up being the primary suspect in a homicide that occurred in Fontana.

Authorities revealed the investigation during a news conference that took place on Thursday at the Fontana Police Department.

Acquanetta Warren, the Fontana Mayor, said: “It is our goal to make safety the number one priority in this community, We need residents to report things they see because that’s how we team to become one.”

The multi-jurisdictional probe focused on South Fontana — a criminal gang — along with the Mexican Mafia, an infamous prison gang.



California Police launched pre-dawn raids nabbing 67 purported gang members this week

“These gangs traffic drugs and firearms, many of which were involved in crimes throughout San Bernardino County,” Police Lieutenant Doug Imhoff stated.

The Mexican Mafia, which is also known by its Spanish name Le Eme, has been highly dynamic in Fontana for decades, Imhoff noted.

The investigation previously led to the arrests of 32 people for crimes including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and drug trafficking and also resulted in the seizure of 19 illegal weapons and narcotics, The San Bernadino Sun reported.



The operation involved over 350 police officers from multiple departments

The investigation involved 350 police officers and the Fontana Police Department, the State Department of Justice, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and California’s Highway Patrol.

In December, officers working the task force for Operation Bad Blood were surveilling a residence in Rialto looking for a suspect when they observed a drive-by shooting, Imhoff added.

“Those officers pursued the suspects into Kern County where seven individuals were arrested,” he said.

A number of the people arrested in the gang takedown that day turned out to be objectives of the operation, Imhoff stated.

South Fontana is a street gang based in Fontana and surrounding areas whose members are affiliated with the Surenos, a Southern California gang that pledges it’s allegiance to the Mexican Mafia.

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