166 Arrested In Massive New Jersey Gang, Fugitive Bust

A massive gang bust in New Jersey led to the arrest of 166 people – 61 of whom belong to some of the most notorious crime organizations in America – in "Operation Summer In The City."

The U.S. Marshals Service and NJ Attorney General’s Office directed the multi-agency collaboration – which included U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE – that targeted gang members and the most violent offenders in four New Jersey communities.

The operation intended to have "a direct impact on the quality of life for the residents of these communities," according to a release from the Office of Attorney General.

This one-week initiative during July resulted in the arrest of 166 fugitives, which included 42 Bloods, 13 Crips, 3 Latin Kings, 1 Surenos and 1 Trinitarios member, according to the Office of Attorney General.

Operation Summer in the City was conducted throughout Newark, Trenton, Jersey City and Camden from July 16 through July 20. The objective was to strategically target the state’s most dangerous fugitives in order to curb the violence in these cities, according to the OAG.

The OAG said it was unable to immediately provide the names of the people arrested to Patch.

Not only were some of New Jersey's most violent offenders apprehended during this operation, but law enforcement also seized guns, drugs, and money. Of these notable seizures, 11 firearms, 7.15 kilograms in narcotics, one vehicle, and $100,000 in cash were confiscated, according to the OAG.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is thankful for the relationships that we have with our city, county, state, and federal law enforcement partners that worked tirelessly in sweltering and scorching conditions to make Operation Summer in the City a huge success," according to the U.S. marshal for the District of New Jersey, Juan Mattos.

"We heard the public’s pleas for help and their expressions of gratitude for making their neighborhoods safer as a result of these arrests," he said. "We listened to you loud and clearly, and we will continue pursuing these violent fugitives that are hiding in every corner of your city.”

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said he promised to make fighting violent crime a top priority, and "this operation is part of delivering on that promise in a collaborative way."

"Law enforcement throughout New Jersey has a tremendous partner in the U.S. Marshals Service, and our strategy in Operation Summer in the City was to conduct the type of operations that the U.S. Marshals conduct every day, but multiply our forces so we could blanket these four cities with deputy marshals and other law enforcement officers and target New Jersey’s most dangerous fugitives," he said.

The full list of participating law enforcement agencies include:

• United States Marshals
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• United States Postal Inspection Service
• Homeland Security Investigations
• ICE
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey
• NJ State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Unit, Fugitive Unit, and K-9
• New Jersey Parole
• New Jersey State Police
• New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice
• New Jersey Department of Corrections
• Port Authority Police Department
• Essex County Sheriff’s Office
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
• Hudson County Sheriff’s Office
• Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
• Union County Sheriff’s Office
• Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
• Trenton Police Department
• Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
• Mercer County Prosecutors Office
• Burlington County Sheriff’s Office
• Ocean County Sheriff’s Office
• Camden County Sheriff's Office
• Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office
• Camden County Prosecutor's Office
• Deptford Police Department
• Camden County Metro Police Department

ICE photo