Massive roundups in Herrera

[NewsWhore]

The National Police carried out a large dragnet in the Herrera area of Santo Domingo yesterday, detaining 125 people and seizing 75 motorcycles and five guns. The operation took place in the barrios that are considered the most vulnerable in the area, near the Guajima Creek. Listin Diario quotes unnamed sources as saying that the chief of police has ordered a survey aimed at locating the gangs and their leaders in an area where two young men were shot dead last week. At the same time, these sources say that the police are trying to target the source of the problems, mostly drug related, and seek to eliminate them. Among some of the other issues mentioned by the sources were: the removal of personnel at several of the local precincts, the formation of neighborhood groups to combat crime and more community service training for police units. Many of the people interviewed by the reporters refused to speak out in fear of reprisals from the gangs. According to residents, the gangs are well armed with rifles and shotguns, and use flak jackets and two-way radios. The reporters said that there were very few people on the streets by 4pm. Today's Listin Diario reports that yet another young person has died as a result of the gang wars the police are trying to stop. Yancy del Orbe Gonzalez, 22, was shot at close range. He reportedly belonged to the gang that killed two brothers last week.

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