more names of those charged with federal crimes were released this week, after a sweep of more than 100 central coast norteno gang members. the sweep, called “operation garlic press”, spanned 5 counties and included 39 law enforcement agencies. a large number of women were arrested in the sweep, and at least 42 of the suspects are from monterey county. charges range from conspiracy to sell drugs to weapons charges. the effort to abate gang activity on the central coast began in april of 2010, with operation knock out, which netted more than 40 arrests.
