Buffalo Crack Distribution Gang Dismantled
19 Suspects Nabbed In Major Crack Distribution Gang Take Down
Re-printed from a story at WKBW Channel 7 on December 15th 2011
Operation Wild Nation is the second major local and federal joint effort to combat crack gangs in Buffalo, New York.
Seventeen people are in custody after police executed 26 federal search warrants in Niagara Falls, NY. Police have Federal arrest warrants for nine others. Early Tuesday morning, 125 officers went to multiple locations around Niagara Falls looking to arrest members from five street gangs.
The street gangs; 9th-N-Wild, 8th Street Boys, 20th-N-Center, GMN, and Stash Team, had joined together to form a 'hybrid' gang.
Many of the gang members have criminal records and some have been arrested around 100 times.
According to Superintendent John Chella, from the Niagara Falls Police Department, Hybrid Street Gangs operate "without territory and without feuds. They are in the process of making money collectively."
Authorities say the five street gangs were responsible for 634 arrests in the City of Niagara Falls which involve violent assaults, home invasions, robberies, burglaries, and drug distribution.
Tuesday's arrests were the second phase of "Operation Wild Nation."
In late November, Niagara Falls Police working with the Buffalo DEA Task Force arrested three brothers who were running a major crack cocaine distribution network in the Falls. A fourth brother is still being sought by police.
All the suspects in Tuesday's raids were taken to US Federal Court in Buffalo for an initial appearance before a judge.
They are being charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Possession with the Intent to Distribute, and Distribution of a quantity of a mixture containing Cocaine Base and or Cocaine.
References:
WKBW Channel 7, Police Target 'Hybrid" Gang
Re-printed from a story at WKBW Channel 7 on December 15th 2011
Operation Wild Nation is the second major local and federal joint effort to combat crack gangs in Buffalo, New York.
Seventeen people are in custody after police executed 26 federal search warrants in Niagara Falls, NY. Police have Federal arrest warrants for nine others. Early Tuesday morning, 125 officers went to multiple locations around Niagara Falls looking to arrest members from five street gangs.
The street gangs; 9th-N-Wild, 8th Street Boys, 20th-N-Center, GMN, and Stash Team, had joined together to form a 'hybrid' gang.
Many of the gang members have criminal records and some have been arrested around 100 times.
According to Superintendent John Chella, from the Niagara Falls Police Department, Hybrid Street Gangs operate "without territory and without feuds. They are in the process of making money collectively."
Authorities say the five street gangs were responsible for 634 arrests in the City of Niagara Falls which involve violent assaults, home invasions, robberies, burglaries, and drug distribution.
Tuesday's arrests were the second phase of "Operation Wild Nation."
In late November, Niagara Falls Police working with the Buffalo DEA Task Force arrested three brothers who were running a major crack cocaine distribution network in the Falls. A fourth brother is still being sought by police.
All the suspects in Tuesday's raids were taken to US Federal Court in Buffalo for an initial appearance before a judge.
They are being charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Possession with the Intent to Distribute, and Distribution of a quantity of a mixture containing Cocaine Base and or Cocaine.
References:
WKBW Channel 7, Police Target 'Hybrid" Gang
