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Hundreds Arrested During 'Operation Clean Sweep'
Sep 7, 2007 05:33 PM CDT
Featured Video
Police Hope Roundup Will Stall Gang's Infiltration of Area
Hundreds Arrested During 'Operation Clean Sweep'
Hundreds Arrested During 'Operation Clean Sweep'
Valley's Most Dangerous Gang
SAND MOUNTAIN, Ala. (WAAY) -- The numbers are in on one of the largest FBI roundups in recent history, and more than 350 people are in custody on everything ranging from weapons to immigration charges.
The suspects are being held on a host of different charges. Some are suspected gang-members, while others major drug-pushers.
"We saw an increase in the street meth coming out of Mexico -- not just in grams and ounces, but pounds and hundreds of pounds," said DeKalb Co. District Attorney Michael O'Dell.
"You put them together collectively and work together to put people in jail over a 3-day period," said FBI Commander Keith Bryars. "It's almost unheard of at this level or magnitude."
Suspect after suspect was arrested in clean sweep as a result of a warrant, 161 names in all. However, another 195 suspects were arrested as a result of leads from those warrants. That adds up to 356 total arrests, one of the largest roundups in recent FBI history.
"It's not over," said Jim Phillips with the U.S. District Attorney's Office. "There are a number of other leads and other investigations that will be generated from this."
Those leads include cases on unsolved murders, gang activity and drug smuggling. Of the 356 people arrested, only two are actually facing immigration charges. But authorities said that number will certainly go up.
"We direct this information to the authorities, in this case immigration, so that it can be dealt with," Bryars said.
The world's most dangerous gang is a big part of the whole operation. Mara Salva-trucha, or MS-13, is synonomous with kidnapping, rape and murder, and that has got a whole lot of people worried in Sand Mountain.
The MS-13 gang symbol can be found from coast to coast, and now they're marking their territory all over Northeast Alabama.
"We've had intelligence in the recent past that the MS-13 gang is active in this area," said Etowah County Sheriff James Hayes.
Rape, murder and human disfigurement are just some of the gang's trademarks, and that's a big reason why authorities spent the last three days trying to track down members during Operation Clean Ssweep.
"How many we've arrested, I'm not quite sure just now," Hayes said. "We're still processing information."
"Anytime theres threats made against the police force or any citizen, we take it very seriously," said Rainsville Police Chief Roger Byrd.
Byrd said the men who stabbed one of his officers last month may be MS-13 members. That case is still under investigation, but its not the only death threat made against a police officer by the gang. MS-13 is also quickly taking over the drug trade in that part of the state.
"No community, large or small, is immune from gangs," Bryars said.
Bryars said the roundup is step one in raising public awareness about the danger posed by MS-13.
"What we see frequently is the gangs that are in the larger cities -- LA, Chicago, Houston -- will move in to a territory where law enforcement may not be aware of their presence."
Authorities have seen a lot of MS-13 activity in DeKalb County, specifically in the Kilpatrick and Crossville areas. Law enforcement officials said they just don't know how many MS-13 members are there, but they promise that the threats and intimidation are not going to be tolerated.
Reporter: Nick Banaszak
Web Editor: Dana Franks
(Copyright 2007 by WAAY-TV. All Rights Reserved.)
Sep 7, 2007 05:33 PM CDT
Featured Video
Police Hope Roundup Will Stall Gang's Infiltration of Area
Hundreds Arrested During 'Operation Clean Sweep'
Hundreds Arrested During 'Operation Clean Sweep'
Valley's Most Dangerous Gang
SAND MOUNTAIN, Ala. (WAAY) -- The numbers are in on one of the largest FBI roundups in recent history, and more than 350 people are in custody on everything ranging from weapons to immigration charges.
The suspects are being held on a host of different charges. Some are suspected gang-members, while others major drug-pushers.
"We saw an increase in the street meth coming out of Mexico -- not just in grams and ounces, but pounds and hundreds of pounds," said DeKalb Co. District Attorney Michael O'Dell.
"You put them together collectively and work together to put people in jail over a 3-day period," said FBI Commander Keith Bryars. "It's almost unheard of at this level or magnitude."
Suspect after suspect was arrested in clean sweep as a result of a warrant, 161 names in all. However, another 195 suspects were arrested as a result of leads from those warrants. That adds up to 356 total arrests, one of the largest roundups in recent FBI history.
"It's not over," said Jim Phillips with the U.S. District Attorney's Office. "There are a number of other leads and other investigations that will be generated from this."
Those leads include cases on unsolved murders, gang activity and drug smuggling. Of the 356 people arrested, only two are actually facing immigration charges. But authorities said that number will certainly go up.
"We direct this information to the authorities, in this case immigration, so that it can be dealt with," Bryars said.
The world's most dangerous gang is a big part of the whole operation. Mara Salva-trucha, or MS-13, is synonomous with kidnapping, rape and murder, and that has got a whole lot of people worried in Sand Mountain.
The MS-13 gang symbol can be found from coast to coast, and now they're marking their territory all over Northeast Alabama.
"We've had intelligence in the recent past that the MS-13 gang is active in this area," said Etowah County Sheriff James Hayes.
Rape, murder and human disfigurement are just some of the gang's trademarks, and that's a big reason why authorities spent the last three days trying to track down members during Operation Clean Ssweep.
"How many we've arrested, I'm not quite sure just now," Hayes said. "We're still processing information."
"Anytime theres threats made against the police force or any citizen, we take it very seriously," said Rainsville Police Chief Roger Byrd.
Byrd said the men who stabbed one of his officers last month may be MS-13 members. That case is still under investigation, but its not the only death threat made against a police officer by the gang. MS-13 is also quickly taking over the drug trade in that part of the state.
"No community, large or small, is immune from gangs," Bryars said.
Bryars said the roundup is step one in raising public awareness about the danger posed by MS-13.
"What we see frequently is the gangs that are in the larger cities -- LA, Chicago, Houston -- will move in to a territory where law enforcement may not be aware of their presence."
Authorities have seen a lot of MS-13 activity in DeKalb County, specifically in the Kilpatrick and Crossville areas. Law enforcement officials said they just don't know how many MS-13 members are there, but they promise that the threats and intimidation are not going to be tolerated.
Reporter: Nick Banaszak
Web Editor: Dana Franks
(Copyright 2007 by WAAY-TV. All Rights Reserved.)
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How does one identify an MS-13er? 0 -
look for ms-13 tatoos and or ms-13 tags, or spraypainting on anything. thats how you know there around. 0 -
Its been a while since 911 happened and are southern border is still wide open? Why? Oh I forgot cheap labor, and according to them they built America.The illegals have been coming over in big numbers since 1955. This is not something new to the feds. The feds just don't want to deal with the problem.That includes Dubya.So who's zooming who?[:D][:D][:D] 0 -
Ugh, I hate this crap. Bunch of disgusting, violent, worthless leeches on society. 0 -
And now they can come in by the semi load. 0 -
I've been hearing alot about this MS-13 gang too. But from the reports I've heard, most of the really nasty stuff they are reported to do, is done in El Salvador where they are reportedly based. They seem to want to stay under the radar in America enough to mostly avoid these types of headline catching crimes here.
But here's a wierd thing.
One of my co-workers is married to an El Salvador immigrant. And he travels there fairly often so she can visit her folks etc. I asked him what he knew about MS-13 in El Salvador. He said they are a minor gang there. I don't recall the names, but he said in El Savador, there are 2 other gangs that are more feared.0 -
I spend quite a bit of time, off and on, in San Salvador, and what the previous poster said is true. MS-13 doesn't raise many eyebrows there. They're known to exist, but not a cause for panic. A large percentage of the people there are armed. The gun laws are fairly lenient. You buy a gun, take it to the police department, get it registered in your name. It's yours to use legally anyway you choose. You can carry it in your car, on your person, concealed, etc. A good friend of mine, a Salvadoreno businessman carries his Glock 19 in his hand when he jogs in the morning. When the police get concerned is when this gun is found at the scene of a crime. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bigcitybill
How does one identify an MS-13er?
Hat on crooked, baggy pants?0 -
MS13 or Mara Salvatrucha 13 is comprised of over a million members in 12 countries. Its' makeup is mostly ex-cons from Salvadoran prisons and freed smugglers from Peru & Colombia. The members are known to one another by hand signals, tattoos, scars and dialect. Their favorite way of intimidating folks is to hack off parts with a machete. They have almost overrun Brownsville, TX, and are working on Matamoros.
This is not a petty problem as some would have you think. They are spreading all over the US, and are recruiting members as young as 10.
They want to control the flow of Mexican meth and Colombian cocaine into the US, and are willing to cause great harm to their opponents.
There are rumors that they have allied with home-grown meth cookers to increase their profitability, and to avoid the pitfalls at the border crossings.
There will be many more stories about Meth cookers being killed or mutilated in rural parts of this country as they fan out to spread their style of "gangbangin'" in the US.0
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