SAN ANTONIO – A 17-week investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies known as "Operation Orejon" has resulted in 212 arrests of extremely violent gang members, said Robert Almonte, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas.
At a joint news conference Friday, Almonte said 121 were members of the Orejon prison gang, plus 91 members of other gangs operating in the San Antonio metro area and in seven surrounding counties.
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Bill McManus, San Antonio police chief, said the number of arrests are staggering and and that lives have been saved.
Orejon means "big ears," yet they apparently were caught off guard by the sweep that Almonte said also included 38 weapons and $82,000 in cash, plus an assortment of drugs.
"Ten kilos of cocaine were seized in one arrest alone," he said.
Almonte said that load was likely tied to Mexican drug cartels.
He said the Orejon gang also dealt in large quantities or marijuana, methamphetamines, and heroin.
McManus said gang members also were selling drugs in downtown tourist areas.
Almonte said the investigation began after the Bexar County Sheriff's Office reported more and more Orejons were being booked.
"We noticed they were younger and more ruthless than the older gangs we typically saw at the jail," said Amadeo Ortiz, Bexar County Sheriff.
Yet unlike other prison gangs, authorities said the Orejon gang is not as organized and structured.
Almonte said that is why the operation was launched.
He said, "We wanted to hit them before they had the opportunity to do that."