More than 500 agents from the FBI and other agencies raided
dozens of South Bay residences, including a Gilroy home, early
Saturday morning in one of the largest gang-eradication sweeps in
decades.
More than 500 agents from the FBI and other agencies raided dozens of South Bay residences, including a Gilroy home, early Saturday morning in one of the largest gang-eradication sweeps in decades.
After 18 months of investigation, authorities targeted suspected members of a street gang known as the Taliban – which has been responsible for armed robberies, drug trafficking, possession of weapons and homicides in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and the greater Bay Area – and arrested 42 people related to the operation, according to a press release issued by the Menlo Park Police Department. It is not affiliated with any Middle Eastern or Muslim groups, police said.
The Taliban gang was formed in 2002 when members of the Midtown Hogs and the G-Town gang united to form a front in a war against the Sac Street Hispanic gang, police said. Since their inception, Taliban gang members have been involved in about 12 homicides, 30 violent felonies, 25 violent misdemeanors and dozens of other non-violent misdemeanors, police said.
The Gilroy Police Department participated in the effort and sent members of its SWAT team to the Gilroy residence of a suspected Taliban gang member where they entered but did not locate the suspect, said Sgt. Jim Gillio.
In addition to the arrests, police seized significant quantities of Ecstasy, cocaine base, codeine and other narcotics along with two large caliber assault rifles and 14 handguns, 10 vehicles and about $240,000 in cash.
“Drugs, guns and violence poison our communities and perpetuate a sense of hopelessness that can drive young men and women into the arms of gangs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Charlene Thornton in a statement. “Today, we have taken a major step toward clearing the way for members of these communities to make their own path without the constant fear of gang violence.”
Police said the sweep was the “largest collaborative effort in the Bay Area in 30 years.”
“To those gang members who may be watching this press conference, let there be no mistake,” said East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis. “Your days of terrorizing this community and other communities are few and you are next.”
