Nationwide gang sweep extends to Atlanta

ATLANTA, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Some 70 members of violent Hispanic street gang Sur-13 have been arrested in the Atlanta area in a federal crackdown on the gang's leadership.

Eighteen of those arrested during a weekend sweep were held for crimes such as murder, armed robbery and drug dealing, U.S. Attorney David Nahmias told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Fifty of the 70 people arrested were deported.

Kenneth Smith, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the Georgia arrests were part of a nationwide sweep that has captured 600 members of Sur-13, which originated in California.

The gang's name refers to the 13th letter of the alphabet -- an M for Mexican Mafia. Surenos means "southerner" in Spanish.

Other major Sur-13 arrests have taken place in Boston, Los Angeles and Birmingham, Ala.