Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 13

ICE Agents Target Violent Gangs Nationwide

ICE agents, in operations over the past three weeks ranging from San Diego and Florida to North Carolina and New Jersey, have arrested dozens of gang members, including several linked to Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), one of the nation’s most violent and dangerous street gangs.

In San Diego, following a two-year investigation, ICE agents, working closely with the North County Regional Gang Task Force, broke up a sophisticated international drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana throughout the United States.

As a result of the probe, 33 individuals, including several high-ranking members of a local street gang, were charged June 7 in federal court with multiple counts of drug trafficking and money laundering. On June 6, 28 of those subjects were arrested during a pre-dawn operation in northern San Diego County. The investigation began after agents learned about the drug distribution activities of Juan Rodriguez, who had a prominent role as a member of the Encinitas Home Boys Street Gang.

In a crackdown on members of the violent MS-13 street gang in New Jersey, ICE agents arrested 14 MS-13 gang members and associates, including the gang’s suspected local leader, in Elizabeth and Somerset, N.J. They were arrested June 15 on criminal charges of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to transfer false identification and administrative immigration violations. The arrests, which involved more than 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in New Jersey, were the culmination of an eight month investigation that made use of court-authorized wire intercepts. Among those arrested was the suspected leader of the MS-13 clique in Elizabeth.

In Florida, an ICE investigation has resulted in the arrest of three members of the MS-13 street gang in the West Palm area of Florida. All three are being held at the Krome Detention Center awaiting the outcome of their cases.

In Charlotte, N.C., ICE special agents and officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested three members of the SUR-13 street gang on June 10. Just a day earlier, ICE, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C. Police Department Gang Unit teamed up to arrest three other gang members.

“We have arrested six violent gang members this week alone and our message is clear: Gang members beware, we will find, arrest and deport you,” said Jeff Jordan, the ICE Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge in North Carolina.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

425 I St NW
Washington, D.C. 20536
Attn: Office of Public Affairs
Russ Bergeron, Editor
Phone: 202-514-2648
Fax: 202-514-1776
Russ.Bergeron@dhs.gov