Thread: TX. Gang crackdown yields more than 200 arrests

Gang crackdown yields more than 200 arrests

17-week operation also lands guns, cash and drugs.

By Guillermo Contreras
gcontreras@express-news.net
Updated 11:41 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2011

Federal and local authorities Friday announced they had arrested 212 accused gang members in San Antonio, more than half of them from a loosely organized group whose members call themselves Orejones.

The announcement culminates Operation Triple Beam — Target Orejón, a 17-week sweep by the U.S. Marshals Service, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The operation included the arrests of 121 Orejón members or associates and 91 from other gangs on charges that include murder, sex crimes, drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons and parole violations.

The operation, officials said, was a proactive approach that also yielded 38 firearms, $82,440 in cash, 26.6 pounds of cocaine, 2.75 pounds of methamphetamine, almost 1.8 pounds of heroin and 5.4 pounds of marijuana.

Their criminal activity was reaching into tourist areas downtown, including the River Walk, officials said.

“We became aware that this gang was increasing in size and membership,â€

Must make Rick Perry soooooo proud!

I visited San Antonio recently with my teen aged granddaughter and we were frightened to walk from River Walk to our hotel after dark. The entire downtown storefronts were mostly empty and the criminals have taken over the city. In fact, I wrote a letter of complaint to the Mayor that not only would I never return but will tell others not to go there.

Texans are foolish not to demand better from their representatives and they should have never re-elected Perry.

One Mexican president said it best. Everywhere there is a Mexican, there is Mexico.