(NewsNation) — Not less than seven alleged gang members have been arrested following an investigation by the FBI and Los Angeles Police Division that additionally netted the seizure of weapons and medicines.
The businesses introduced the outcomes of the probe, dubbed “Operation Wipe Out,” in a information convention Wednesday in San Pedro, NewsNation affiliate KTLA-TV reported. Investigators focused the sale of unlawful firearms and medicines in LA’s Harbor space.
In a collection of pre-dawn raids, brokers arrested seven folks on federal prices and seized roughly 23,000 fentanyl capsules, 26 kilograms of methamphetamine and roughly 23 unlawful firearms, officers mentioned.
“As we speak’s arrests sign the top of an investigation that began in late 2020 and centered on among the most harmful gang members within the Harbor space,” mentioned Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace.
The investigation initially centered on the Westside Wilmas gang however finally expanded into the higher echelons of the Mexican Mafia, LAPD mentioned in an announcement.
The FBI’s Los Angeles subject workplace mentioned it arrested a total of 12 people in connection to the investigation. These arrested are believed to be linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, which Mrozek mentioned is flooding California with fentanyl.
“It’s unbelievable how many individuals could have died on account of these medication as soon as they hit the road,” he mentioned. “A considerable portion of the fentanyl that’s in distribution in america is attributed to the Sinaloa Cartel and one different cartel in Mexico, however Sinaloa tends to visitors extra to the California space.”
Three suspects are nonetheless needed in connection to the investigation: Fernando Nava, Iliana Zepeda and Ramon Gonzalez.
NewsNation affiliate KTLA-TV contributed to this report.
