Police have nabbed 42 people for narcotic, gang and other offenses and seized guns, drugs and cash during a five-month-old partnership with federal drug and immigration officials, officers announced Wednesday.
In a packed roll call room at the Santa Cruz Police Department, investigators displayed 10 guns and numerous plastic bags filled with about $25,000 cash plus chunks of cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana gained in an effort dubbed Operation Southern Exposure. The name reflects the gangs the operation targets.
Santa Cruz police entered a partnership with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Agency in May, after a spike in violence that included murders of two Santa Cruz teens who crossed the path of alleged gang members.
“We are completely thrilled with the results to date,” DEA agent Amie Clarke said. “There have been some significant arrests.”
Of the 42 people arrested, nine were detained by immigration officials, six were Mara Salvatrucha gang members and three were Sureño gang members, said Joe Vincent, a special agent in a San Jose ICE office serving four counties.
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