15 Atlanta area gang members arrested amid national sweep

By Jeremy Redmon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fifteen gang members from throughout the Atlanta area were among more than 600 people arrested this month as part of a wide-ranging crackdown on gangs involved in human smuggling and trafficking in 150 cities and in Honduras.

Police from Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Forest Park and Cobb County assisted in the operation, called “Project Nefarious,” according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A variety of other federal law enforcement agencies also participated in the effort.

ICE declined to identify the Atlanta area suspects but said they were in the country illegally and were arrested on state and federal charges, including forgery, possession of marijuana and cocaine, trafficking in methamphetamine and auto theft. They were part of the Surenos 13, a Mexican gang that is prevalent throughout the nation, according to ICE.

In all, 637 gang people and their associates from 168 transnational street, prison and outlaw motorcycle gangs were arrested between April 9 and Saturday, according to ICE. Of those arrested, 479 were charged with criminal offenses; 210 had violent criminal histories; 10 were wanted for murder; and 290 are foreign nationals.

Police also seized 52 firearms, 5,462 pounds of marijuana, 6 pounds of cocaine, $201,437 in U.S currency and 14 vehicles, according to ICE. Those arrested came from 33 countries in Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

“By ridding our streets of 637 gang members and associates, we are putting a dent in the violence these transnational criminal street gangs bring to our communities,” James Dinkins, an executive associate director of homeland security investigations for ICE, said in a prepared statement.

15 Atlanta area gang members arrested amid national sweep *| ajc.com