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Authorities Target Illegal Foreign Gang Members
Hawaii Law Enforcement Arrests Members Of Mainland Street Gangs

POSTED: 5:25 pm HST March 17, 2006
UPDATED: 6:05 pm HST March 17, 2006

HONOLULU -- Federal and local law enforcement officials announced on Friday the arrests of foreign nationals in Hawaii they said have ties to violent street gangs.

Within the last year, nine illegal aliens have been arrested in Hawaii. Two of the members are part of one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the United States, officials said.

The arrests are part of a joint operation with U.S. Immigration and Customs agents and local police called Operation Community Shield.

Javier Martinez-Arrellano was arrested last August on Maui. Officials said he is a member of the notorious 18th Street Gang out of California.

"We want the message to get out to the immigrant community -- specifically the unlawful immigrant community -- that we're not going to tolerate any of these gang members in our community," said Wayne Wills, of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The district attorney's office said it will investigate and prosecute any gang members arrested in Hawaii.

Although there's no evidence any of these men are actively recruiting new members, it's law enforcement's greatest fear.

"They're being influenced by the MTV life; gang life is being glamorized. We're afraid of them seeing one of these guys coming in, these so-called hard-core gang members, and looking toward them as God, frankly, and following what they do," Maui Police Department Detective Clyde Holokai said.