East Bay Gang Bust: Cops Seize 135 Pounds of Meth

By Peter Jamison Wed., May 4 2011 at 1:28 PM

Categories: Crime, Law & Order

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Cops busted a gang in Contra Costa County, arresting 35 people and seizing 135 pounds of crystal meth, the office of Attorney General Kamala Harris announced today.

So-called Operation Red Reach, which concluded today, was a coordinated effort by state and local law-enforcement authorities. Police who performed the busts also took possession of 26 guns (including two assault rifles), $86,500 and six vehicles.

The sweep comes as Harris, who assumed office earlier this year, is trying to burnish her antigang credentials. She toured the California-Mexico border last month to highlight the problem of transnational gangs, and has created a multi-agency task force targeting gang activity in California's Central Valley.

"We are fighting transnational gangs from one end of California to another," Harris said in a statement released today. "With the cooperation of local and federal law enforcement agencies, we're going to outmuscle, outsmart and undo them."

Included in Operation Red Reach's arrests was Joseph Abbate, who, according to the AG's office, is an "identified member" of the Norteños street gang.

Search warrants were served in San Pablo, Richmond, El Sobrante, Pinole, Antioch, Pittsburg, San Rafael, Vallejo, Fairfield, and Sacramento. The arrested suspects are being held at San Pablo Jail.

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