In a nationwide attempt to stop transitional street gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) from causing further harm, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested 361 individuals connected to the gang, including 263 members.
"This national anti-gang enforcement operation, "Project Razor's Edge," was conducted July 15 to Aug. 9," the ICE said in a news release. "The operation was led by HSI's National Gang Unit (NGU) under the auspices of Operation Barbed Wire to combat the national security and public safety threats posed by MS-13 gang members and associates and to ultimately identify, target, arrest, and prosecute MS-13 gang members and associates as well as their rival gangs."
There were 43 different gangs in 71 U.S. cities associated with the 263 members arrested. The arrests also included 84 non-gang members wanted on criminal charges and 14 for immigration violations, according to the news release. The ICE confirmed twenty-five HSI field offices worked with local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies to help in the mass arrests of the MS-13 members.
"Operations like these are especially rewarding for the men and women of HSI as they know firsthand that they're playing a critical role in community safety," said HSI Executive Associate Director James Dinkins.
Of the 361 arrested, ICE confirmed:
158 were MS-13 members and associates,
297 were charged with criminal offenses,
64 were arrested for being in violation of U.S. immigration laws,
130 had violent criminal histories,
4 were gang leaders, and
202 were foreign nationals.
"According to HSI, transnational criminal street gangs have significant numbers of foreign national members and are frequently involved in human smuggling and trafficking; narcotics smuggling and distribution; identity theft and benefit fraud; money laundering and bulk cash smuggling; weapons smuggling and arms trafficking; cybercrimes; export violations and other crimes with a nexus to the border," the ICE said.
The ICE also listed the charges:
Of the 297 arrested for federal and state criminal violations, charges included first degree murder, aggravated assault, assault, firearms possession, aggravated robbery, armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, obstruction of criminal investigations, interference with commerce by threats or violence, illegal re-entry of a removed alien, sexual assault, indecent contact with a minor and kidnapping. In addition to the arrests, during the operation, HSI special agents seized 28 firearms, 9.94 kilograms of marijuana, 122.8 grams of cocaine, 771.50 grams of heroin and $22,390.85 in U.S. currency.
Click here for more information about the arrests, including names of individuals.
