LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) -- A violent Clark County gang is being rendered powerless, according to Metro investigators.
“Operation Washout” led to the arrest of 12 FTC gang members, stunting the group's quick growth from graffiti taggers to a large drug operation.
The arrests started last week when police say undercover agents bought five pounds of meth from some of the gang members.
That led police to execute search warrants and ultimately seize 21 pounds of meth.
Police say that amount tells them the FTC gang got too comfortable and started slipping up.
Work on the Metro operation started eight months ago.
“I think part of the evolution of FTC, the quick evolution, is I think somewhere along the way they realized that they were in their own minds, in their own way in competition with some of the bigger more long standing games in Clark County,” said Capt. David O'Leary of Metro’s Gang Crimes Bureau, “and I think they wanted to make a name for themselves.”
Metro says the gang is suspected in shootings and possibly murders.
With help from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. marshals, North Las Vegas Police and Nevada State Parole and Probation, Metro launched its investigation.
Out of 12 arrests, Metro says three were top FTC leaders.
Metro says because of the success in this case, it will be changing how they tackle gangs in the future.
Officials say they'll now focus on bringing down gang leadership and building bigger cases against gang members so that those members will spend large amounts of time behind bars.
