NCJ Number
149388
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 61 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1994) Pages: 30-31,33-35
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was established to engage in proactive, interagency, multijurisdictional law enforcement operations against criminal alien gangs and gang-related activities in Miami, New York City, Chicago, and other cities.
Abstract
The VGTF initiative involves 130 special agents in 16 large cities and an additional 20 special agents in smaller urban areas where alien gangs may be forming. The 95 criminal investigations opened since the VGTF initiative began have resulted in the arrest of 2,843 alien gang members, the seizure of $156.6 million worth of drugs, and the seizure of U.S. currency and property valued at over $8 million. In Miami, the VGTF primarily focuses on drug smuggling into the United States through South Florida. The VGTF in New York City has two units, one targeting Asian gangs and the other dealing with alien criminal groups from the Caribbean. Chicago's VGTF has targeted 54 different street gangs and has apprehended over 1,600 gang members and associates. The VGTF initiative is viewed as a successful nationwide program to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in gang prevention.