Little Village drug bust nets 38 suspects
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/cust ... i-news-hed
In announcing the arrests of 38 gang members, Chicago police today claimed progress in breaking up a Little Village drug operation allegedly responsible for $12 million a year in narcotics sales as well as 18 slayings and dozens of shootings in recent years.
Police identified those arrested as members of the Latin Kings and Two Sixers gangs that allegedly are responsible for much of the drug dealing and violence in the Southwest Side neighborhood. The investigation is continuing.
The arrests are related to drug dealing between Cermak Road on the north and 31st Street on the south, and from Pulaski Road west to Kostner Avenue, police said.
Much of the violence in the area has been tied in recent years to competition between the two gangs. Police said they believe 18 homicides and 54 shootings stem directly from the gang activity led by people arrested in the sting drug operation.
The police department also has referred nine properties to city investigators because of evidence the buildings are tied to gang activity. Those buildings may be seized, police said.
Chicago Little Village drug bust nets 38 suspects
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Police crack down on crime on Southwest Side
By Charles Thomas
March 30, 2006 - Chicago police have launched a major crackdown on drug distribution in the Chicago area. They are targeting a drug ring that operates in the Little Village neighborhood on the city's Southwest Side.
Chicago police are calling this the opening assault in their springtime offensive against street gangs. They have targeted two of the oldest predominantly Mexican-American gangs in Chicago, which have battled for years on the Southwest Side.
In Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, police analysts saw that the number of homicides in recent years -- 18 -- had not fallen as much as in the rest of city. They determined the reason was a long-running and violent dispute over drug sales between the Latin Kings and Two-Sixer street gangs.
"In Little Village, we saw that an increase in homicides and violent crimes was directly related to the gang activity and the drug sales," said Ald. Ricardo Munoz, 22nd Ward.
So to bring down the factions, police and federal agents -- many working undercover -- targeted the gangs' lucrative drug businesses -- about $12 million a year in heroin and cocaine sales.
"They use couriers, they only sell to people they know and as I stated before, upper level people deal with the African American street gangs, also," said Lt. John Royton, Chicago Police Department.
Eleven Two-Sixers gang members were charged last year. Twenty-five of the 27 Latin Kings named in the complaint were picked up this week and they included Camilo Alvarez -- a so-called "INCA" or Kings' street boss -- and Ramonita Reyes, also known as "Mama King."
"We have two and will continue to fight these urban terrorists with every resource that we have. We're going to take back these streets for our children and families," said Deputy Supt. Hiram Grau, Chicago Police Department.
You can see the ABC7 report by clicking on the video icon above. You will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to view this video. You can get it FREE by clicking here. NOTE: Video clips will only be available for 5-days from the date they were created. ALSO: Video clips will play in a separate window on Mac OS X machines, you may also see a video help screen.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectio ... id=4040511
By Charles Thomas
March 30, 2006 - Chicago police have launched a major crackdown on drug distribution in the Chicago area. They are targeting a drug ring that operates in the Little Village neighborhood on the city's Southwest Side.
Chicago police are calling this the opening assault in their springtime offensive against street gangs. They have targeted two of the oldest predominantly Mexican-American gangs in Chicago, which have battled for years on the Southwest Side.
In Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, police analysts saw that the number of homicides in recent years -- 18 -- had not fallen as much as in the rest of city. They determined the reason was a long-running and violent dispute over drug sales between the Latin Kings and Two-Sixer street gangs.
"In Little Village, we saw that an increase in homicides and violent crimes was directly related to the gang activity and the drug sales," said Ald. Ricardo Munoz, 22nd Ward.
So to bring down the factions, police and federal agents -- many working undercover -- targeted the gangs' lucrative drug businesses -- about $12 million a year in heroin and cocaine sales.
"They use couriers, they only sell to people they know and as I stated before, upper level people deal with the African American street gangs, also," said Lt. John Royton, Chicago Police Department.
Eleven Two-Sixers gang members were charged last year. Twenty-five of the 27 Latin Kings named in the complaint were picked up this week and they included Camilo Alvarez -- a so-called "INCA" or Kings' street boss -- and Ramonita Reyes, also known as "Mama King."
"We have two and will continue to fight these urban terrorists with every resource that we have. We're going to take back these streets for our children and families," said Deputy Supt. Hiram Grau, Chicago Police Department.
You can see the ABC7 report by clicking on the video icon above. You will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to view this video. You can get it FREE by clicking here. NOTE: Video clips will only be available for 5-days from the date they were created. ALSO: Video clips will play in a separate window on Mac OS X machines, you may also see a video help screen.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectio ... id=4040511