City Breaks Up Two Street Gangs As DEA Joins Crackdown On Violence

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Mar 26, 2012 9:30PM

After a violent start to the year, the Chicago Police Department is partnering with federal officers to crack down on crime on the South and West sides leading to two major successes.

Police busted up two drug markets — one operated by the Four Corner Hustlers in the Harrison District and another operated by the Traveling Vice Lords in the Austin District within 1,000 feet of a school.

Police partnered with the Drug Enforcement Agency on the two-month investigation that led to charging 36 gang targets in Harrison and 17 in Austin. Police also seized $1 million in cash, $1.5 million in narcotics and eight firearms.

A release from the mayor's office states:

“These take downs are the result of partnerships between the Chicago Police Department, our federal partners and the input of the community,” said (CPD) Superintendent (Garry) McCarthy. “This is just the beginning - we are going to be addressing gang violence in a new, comprehensive fashion to ensure that Chicago is a safe place to live, work and play for residents of all our communities.”

This is part of the city's effort to put pressure on the two police districts that have the most violence by putting pressure to choke out gangs. After the excessively violent St. Patrick's Day weekend that left 10 dead and dozens injured from gunfire, Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the CPD is working on a new "citywide anti-gang strategy."