Crackdown shows gangs had become prominent
The dozens of arrests made over the past six months show what many have long known: that street gang activity exists and has become a significant problem in Middlesex County and in New Jersey as a whole. Gang-related crimes have surfaced in several local towns, and it is to the credit of law enforcement officials from various county and municipal agencies that so many suspected members are now behind bars or facing criminal charges.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said last week that 84 alleged gang members had been arrested in the county since May, and arrest warrants were out for another 16 suspects. The lengthy list of gangs known to operate in the area may come as a surprise to some, because it shows the prevalence of the street gang problem. They range from the commonly known Bloods and Crips to groups like Dominicans Don't Play and 18th Street. They typically involve teenagers and 20-somethings.

Those arrested are being accused of a range of crimes from murder and robbery to weapons and drug possession and distribution. Granted, many of the suspects were concentrated in New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Highland Park and Piscataway, but several were from local towns like Sayreville, North Brunswick and South River.

Gangs are no longer a big-city problem. They grow and thrive in the suburbs of New Jersey. They cross all ethnic, racial, age, gender and socioeconomic boundaries, and they bring violence, drug trafficking, vandalism and destruction to local neighborhoods.

The establishment of street gangs in the state and the local region has made the county's antigang initiative all the more important. It is imperative that the law enforcement agencies continue to focus efforts on rounding up suspected gang members in order to keep local communities safe from the violence and drug activity of street gangs.