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Posted: March 17, 2006 05:54 PM


Law enforcement officers arrest two gang members
Manolo Morales


Local law enforcement officers say they've arrested two members of one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the country.

The gang is known as MS 13, and there's concern that there are more members in Hawaii.

The arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown on gangs, led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, also known as ICE. It's called Operation Community Shield, and it targets foreign nationals with ties to violent street gangs. MS 13 is known as being highly organized, and involved in just about every violent crime in the book.

"They are also known as cop killers. And this is what disturbs me most about these types of organizations," says Ed Kubo, United States Attorney.

The operation here in Hawaii resulted in nine arrests. The two MS 13 gang members, originally from El Salvador, were arrested on Maui for minor drug offenses and traffic violations. Law enforcers say they don't have evidence that the gang is recruiting members here. But MS 13 has a reputation as aggressive recruiters.

"If we don't start getting on top of this now, it's gonna get on top of us," says Kubo.

Law enforcers say MS 13's reputation might sound appealing to Hawaii youths, especially at a time when gangster life is glamorized in hip hop music.

"We're afraid of them seeing one of these guys coming in, and the so-called hard core gang members, and looking towards them and see them as God, frankly," says Detective Clyde Holokai, Maui Police Department.

So local police departments are teaming up with state and federal law enforcement agencies for an aggressive fight against gang activity.

"We want the message to get out to the immigration community, specifically the unlawful immigration community, that we're not gonna tolerate any of these gang members in our community," says Wayne Wills, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

They also want the community's help. People are asked to be on the lookout for suspicious gang activity.