41 people arrested during ‘Operation Red Rooster’ in Merced, Justice Department says | YourCentralValley.com

MERCED, California (KSEE/KGPE) – More than 40 people were arrested and several pounds of narcotics and numerous weapons were seized as part of Operation Red Rooster, which targeted a criminal street gang in Merced, the California Department of Justice said.

As a result of the operation, over 60 pounds of narcotics were seized and 27 weapons were confiscated, according to the Justice Department.

The investigation began in 2021 after Livingston police investigated a murder and attempted murder linked to a prominent criminal street gang.

According to the Justice Department, one of the shooters was arrested, but the other is still at large.

As the scope of the investigation increased, so did the number of authorities involved in the operation.

Officials and employees from the California Department of Justice, Livingston Police Department, Merced County Sheriff’s Office, Merced Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined the fray.

“Operation Red Rooster was a success thanks to the hard work of so many dedicated law enforcement partners,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Our work to combat the organized criminal street gang crisis is saving lives and making communities safer – but there is more to be done. We will not rest until communities across California are free of gang activity, including here in the Central Valley.”

According to the Justice Department, the operation lasted about 18 months and ended on Thursday morning with the arrest of 41 suspects accused of murder, attempted murder, arms trafficking and drug trafficking with aggravated gang offenses.