Gangs: The presence of street gangs in New Jersey is now a notable priority for law enforcement. Intelligence gaps exist in regards to the intelligence surrounding the integration of street gangs in the drug trade in certain areas of the state. The NJ State Police has initiated “Operation Cease Fire” to address the gang problem in the big cities in NJ, to include the cities of Elizabeth and Plainfield in Union County. Intelligence information received indicates that the CRIPS are the most powerful gang in Elizabeth, NJ, over the BLOODS who have many more members than the CRIPS. In Union County, NJ there are 867 “verified gang members” and 447 “unverified gang members.”
Since the dismantling of several major local drug trafficking organizations, in particular the ET HAK Organization, gangs have taken over the drug trade. Reportedly, the BLOODS, CRIPS and LATIN KINGS gangs control the Greater Newark area as follows: the North Newark District (Vailsburg to South Orange) is controlled by the LATIN KINGS; the South Newark District (W. Kinney St., Central Ave. to the Elizabeth border) is controlled by the Bloods; the East Newark District (High St. to the borders of Jersey City and Kearny) are controlled by the CRIPS; and the West Newark District (Martin Luther King Blvd. to Irvington and Hillside) is controlled by the BLOODS. The CRIPS are also prevalent in Irvington, NJ.
“Operation Direct Pressure” was an investigation targeting the growing violence in local towns in the county. It was coordinated by the Morris County Prosecutors Office Narcotics/Gambling Unit and included Federal, state county and municipal law enforcement agencies. This was the first operation in the history of Morris County to focus on street gang criminal activity. In October 2006, two hundred and seventy five (275) law enforcement personnel executed search, arrest and seizure warrants at various locations in three counties. These warrants revealed an active presence of the BLOODS in the area, and uncovered a practice of recruitment amongst school age children. Over fifty individuals, eleven of which were active BLOODS members, were arrested.
In the Southern part of the state, there has been an ongoing street war between two rival BLOODS sets: Sex, Money, Murder and the Gangster Killer Bloods. This conflict has resulted in multiple shootings and assaults in Trenton, NJ. Members of the BLOODS street gang have also been observed conducting narcotics transactions from residences in beach towns such as North Wildwood.
