Cambodian gang busted in California
- From correspondents in Los Angeles
- June 07, 2007
CALIFORNIAN authorities have busted an ethnic Cambodian street gang, arresting 35 members who used internet and text messages to plot drive-by shootings and traffic guns and drugs.
"The Loc Town Crips terrorised Stockton neighbourhoods and operated a virtual underground business, using the internet, text messaging and FedEx to complete their deals," Attorney General Jerry Brown said.
The gang, which had about 100 members in Stockton, 130 kilometres east of San Francisco, shipped cash, drugs and guns via delivery services such as FedEx, DHL and UPS to other associates and gangs around the country.
The weapons were also used in drive-by shootings against rival gangs, Mr Brown's office said.
"In the last six months, the gang participated in at least four drive-by shootings in the Stockton area alone".
Afterwards, gang members boasted of their exploits on internet sites such as Myspace, and posted recordings of rap songs detailing their activities.
Today's arrests were a "major take-down" of the Loc Town Crips' key leaders, officials said, and were the biggest this year by California police who are fighting a tough battle against gangs across the state.
The arrests followed a six-month investigation by the attorney general's office, which uncovered a network of widespread violence and drug-dealing including sales of methamphetamines, ecstasy and marijuana all the way across to the east coast.
Police estimate there are nearly 500 Asian street gangs in California, most of them organised by ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese-Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians or Hmong.
