Multiple arrested in major federal raid of Mexican mafia in Southern California
A major multi-agency operation targeting members of the Mexican mafia was underway across Southern California Thursday.
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, search and arrest warrants are being executed at 30 locations across the region, mostly in Orange County.
ABC Los Angeles affiliate KABC was on the scene when law enforcement members took at least two people into custody at a home in Lakewood. Other raids have taken place in Santa Ana and Anaheim.
"We have indicted about 40 individuals in this case," Essayli told KABC while on the scene. "It's a very large case. About 10 of them are already in custody. A lot of them operate from within custody. The other 30 or so we're arresting [Thursday] morning. So you have teams of law enforcement going to each of their homes, residences, throughout Southern California. The focus of this particular gang is they operate in Orange County."
Essayli said the suspects are wanted for various offenses, but most of them involve the distribution of drugs.
This is a developing story.
