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 ICE making an arrest inSalt Lake City | |
| Date | December 2010 – February 2011 |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Successful project, 678 gang members and associates arrested |
Project Southern Tempest[1] was a majorU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation conducted between December 2010 and February 2011 targeting transnationalstreet gang members with ties todrug cartels in Mexico, as part of the ongoing law enforcement initiative known asOperation Community Shield.[2]
During Project Southern Tempest, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit and officers from 173 cooperating federal, state and local law enforcement agencies arrested 678 individuals from 133 different gangs, in 168 cities across the nation. Of the 678 arrested, over 46% percent were members or associates of gangs with ties to drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in Mexico.[1]
ICE Director John Morton issued the following statement: "Project Southern Tempest is the largest ever ICE-led gang enforcement operation targeting gangs with ties to drug trafficking organizations. Through gang enforcement operations like Project Southern Tempest and Project Big Freeze last year, ICE will continue to disrupt and dismantle thesetransnational gangs and rid our streets not only of drug dealers, but the violence associated with the drug trade."[1][3]
In addition to the 678 arrested gang members, 164 individuals were arrested for federal and/or state criminal violations, or administrative immigration violations. Of the 164, 117 were charged with criminal offenses, 46 had violent criminal histories, 47 were administrative arrests and 78 were foreign nationals. Eighty-six firearms, eight pounds (3.6 kg) of methamphetamine, 30 pounds (14 kg) of marijuana, one pound (0.45 kg) of cocaine, over US$70,000 and two vehicles were also seized.[1]
Those arrested came from 24 countries in South and Central America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Of the total number of arrested, 776 were males and 72 were females.[1]
Of the 678 gang members or associates arrested:[1][3]
Among those arrested during Project Southern Tempest were:[1]
During Project Southern Tempest, the HSI-led Salt Lake City Operation Community Shield Task Force arrested the 20,000th gang member since the beginning of the operation in 2005.[1]
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