'Project Shadowfire' Captures Violent Gang Members Nationwide
DENVER (CBS4) - A federal operation aimed at arresting the most violent gang members across the country nabbed over a dozen in Colorado.
The nationwide sweep, called Project Shadowfire, is a collaboration between federal agents and local law enforcement, who have been partnering for five weeks to take down violent gangs.
It stretched from of Florida to California and included Colorado.
Police raids that began in mid-February have now resulted in 1,133 arrests. That includes 10 people in the Denver area and four in Grand Junction.
ICE Director Sara R. Saldana said in a statement that the operation is part of a larger ongoing effort, "to target violent gang members and their associates, to eradicate the violence they inflict upon our communities, and to stop the cash flow to transnational organized crime groups operating overseas."
Most of those arrested are gang members with international ties, involved in everything from drug and sex trafficking to human smuggling and murder.
Officials say those from Colorado have been charged with a variety of crimes as well, including weapons offenses and drug charges.
In addition to the hundreds of arrests, investigators brought in nearly $100,000 in cash, in addition to a number of drugs and weapons.