Santa Cruz Police Arrest 42 as Part of Crime Cleanup

On average, in the four months that the Santa Cruz Police Department has worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more than two people have been arrested every week as part of a joint crackdown on crime in Santa Cruz.

"I knew that we would be successful, but I did not know we would be as successful as we were," said Interim Police Chief Kevin Vogel. "This is a testament to the tremendous impact" of the joint effort.

"I have to admit, our results these last few months have exceeded even my own expectations," said Joe Vincent, assistant special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "We have taken some vary dangerous people, weapons and drugs off the streets of this community."

The haul is impressive. In the four months since the joint operation launched, 42 arrests have been made. Of those, nine of the suspects had ICE detainers placed on them suggesting they are in the United States illegally. Eight suspects belonged to gangs: six were MS-13 members; two were Sureño members.

The haul also includes a seized currency in excess of $24,000, 10 firearms including a sub machine gun, and a massive cache of drugs including:

• 10 ounces, 24 grams of methamphetamines
• 1 kilo, 4 ounces of cocaine
• 7.5 grams of crack cocaine
• 1 ounce, 6 grams of heroin
• 2 pounds, 3 ounces of marijuana
• 3,850 Ecstasy pills

Amie Clarke, a DEA agent, said there is plenty more in Santa Cruz.

"The drugs the money and the guns and the number of individuals that have been arrested is just the tip of the iceberg," she said.

Vogel agreed and reiterated the need for joint operations like this.

"We've made important strides but I recognize that there is still work to do," said Vogel. "The gang members aren't giving up and neither are we."