SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. law enforcement units of northern California arrested 47 people in a massive gang sweep in a city east of San Francisco, the state's attorney general's office said Thursday.
The sweeping crackdown on gang crimes, which took place on Tuesday, also seized 35 firearms including 10 assault rifles, 34 pounds (about 15.4 kg) of marijuana, 2 pounds of of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine and 44,000 U.S. dollars in cash, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California said.
The sweep is part of a takedown of gang members in Stockton, a city about 104 km east of San Francisco, and mainly targeted criminal activities committed by the most notorious local criminal gangs, such as the MOB, Flyboys, East Coast Crips and Conway Gangsters.
The gang members were accused of conducting criminal activities like conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal weapons possession, and gang enhancements, it said.
"Families in Stockton can breathe a little easier tonight knowing that gang members, drugs, and deadly weapons are off the streets," said Californian Attorney General Xavier Becerra in a statement on Thursday.
"The MOB and Flyboys have used violence to incite fear and intimidation in the south Stockton community for far too long," he noted.
The anti-gang crime operation was a result of a joint investigation by the Californian Department of Justice, local police and highway patrol of the state.
The Stockton Police Department said Thursday on its official Facebook account that the inter-agency investigations have been carried on for three months.
"Many of these offenders have trafficked and compelled others into prostitution, engaged in shootings and violent acts, and sold large quantities of narcotics and weapons," said San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar.
Stockton is the county seat of San Joaquin County in the Central Valley of California on the west U.S. coast. Enditem
