SANTA ANA (AP) — The FBI says 99 people have been arrested in an Orange County crackdown on gangs with ties to the Mexican Mafia.

A joint federal, state and local task force served search and arrest warrants Wednesday for crimes ranging from extortion to soliciting murder.

TV reports showed heavily armed teams taking heavily-tattooed men into custody.

The raids followed a 2 1/2-year investigation.

It's the latest in a series of recent raids targeting affiliates of the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang believed to be deeply involved in drug- and gun-running.

Last month, 10 people were arrested in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and in May, 13 people were arrested in a crackdown along the Central California coast.

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