The FBI conducted a nationwide sweep this week to bust hundreds of gang members, resulting in 263 arrests.
Authorities say 158 of those arrested were members of the notorious MS-13 gang, a group with rap sheets that include murder, assault, sexual assault, robbery and kidnapping charges. There were also several immigration violations involved, as many of the gang’s members are immigrants from Central and South America. According to Homeland Security, the group is one of the most dangerous in America–operating in 42 states–but members aren’t confined to the U.S., which has made tracking their movements all the more difficult.
Some of the items seized during the sweep included 28 firearms, 10 kilograms of marijuana, 123 grams of cocaine, over 770 grams of heroin and about $22,400.
The bust isn’t the only gang-related crackdown to come this year; in June, authorities announced that 30 alleged members of Texas prison gang Mexican Mafia were arrested for their involvement with the Zetas cartel in bringing drugs over the border to distribute them north.
“We will not tolerate any type of gang activity or organized crime,” DEA Special Agent In charge Javier Pena said. “If they are working an area we’re going to target them.” – See more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/30-arrested-texas-sweep-notorious-gang#sthash.QiSzIrkG.dpuf