Posted 6/10/08
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Authorities Round Up 120 Suspected Gang Members

ATLANTA (AP) Authorities say they have arrested more than 120 gang members and associates across Georgia, including seven on charges of illegally re-entering the country after deportation.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency says the operation dubbed ``Community Shield'' ended Saturday after federal, state and local authorities nabbed 122 gang members and five others linked to them in metro Atlanta, Dalton, Savannah and Albany. Nineteen were charged with state crimes or had warrants pending.

-WSB talks with ICE's Barbara Gonzalez about the arrests-

ICE said Tuesday that the Hondurans, Mexicans, Salvadorans and Guatemalans belonged to gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13); Norteno; West Side Locos; and Vatos Locos. The arrests were part of a national effort in which 8,900 members of more than 700 gangs have been arrested since 2005.

http://wsbradio.com/news/061008gangs.html