By Caitlin Esch, Rachael Marcus and AP
Local and federal law enforcement officials arrested 18 people Friday in a crackdown on the notorious Case Gang in East Oakland, which officials believe is responsible for many of the violent crimes plaguing the city.
The series of raids, which began around 5 a.m. Friday, was orchestrated by the Oakland Police Department and more than 160 federal agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and other agencies. They targeted more than a dozen locations associated with alleged members of the gang.
"[These are] probably the most violent young group of people that I've ever seen in my 25 years," said Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan. "And I say that because the motive really wasn't your traditional motive. It wasn't for money; it wasn't for turf. It was basically, they hated the other gang."
A feud between the Case Gang and a larger group known as the Money Team has escalated in the past several months. The war has resulted in many violent crimes, including several murders earlier this year.