A multi-agency gang bust Thursday, June 9, led to 52 arrests, and the seizure of 67 firearms and $1.6 million worth of drugs, officials said at a Thursday afternoon, June 9, press conference.

The bust, which took place in Corona and nearby areas in Riverside County, came after a months-long investigation between the Corona Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Justice, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol and others into a prominent Corona-based street gang and its prison-gang affiliate.

Corona police spokesman Sgt. Paul Mercado said the bust is one of the biggest ever in Corona.

“I’ve been here over 20 years, and this is the largest investigation I’ve ever seen,” Mercado said.

The investigation – dubbed “Operation CVL Gun Shop” – began in February after a string of violent attacks in Corona carried out by members of the Corona Varrio Locos gang, Mercado said. The gang is affialted with the Mexican Mafia prison gang “La Eme.”

One of those attacks was the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Will Crites on Feb. 26. Police believe a Corona Varrio Locos member stabbed Crites, but have not been able to arrest the person yet.

Crites’ mother, Monasue Crites, said she had heard from some of her son’s friends that gang members had killed him, but did not know for sure. Will Crities was not in a gang, she said.

Crites said she felt unsettled to know that gang members killed her son, but relieved that police managed to arrest people affiliated with them.

“It feels good to know that they’re off the streets,” Monasue Crites said. “Hopefully it will save another kid from getting hurt.”

The investigation culminated 4 a.m. Thursday morning, when more than 300 law enforcement officers from various agencies began the sweep – serving 32 search warrants and 27 arrest warrants.

In addition to the $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana and the 61 firearms – including several assault rifles – officers seized in the sweep, they also nabbed more than $95,000 cash, a car believed to be stolen and gang paraphernalia.

During the sweep, a dog was shot and killed by a Fontana police SWAT team officer, Mercado said.

A SWAT team drove an armored vehicle through the fence of a home on North Merrill Street before attempting to serve an arrest warrant, Mercado said. The person they were trying to arrest opened the door, let two dogs out, and fled and foot.

The officers, feeling threatened by the dogs, shot non-lethal rounds at them, scaring off one. The other was shot to death by an officer.

Other than that incident, Mercado said, the sweep went as planned.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, at the press conference, said 31 criminal charges – 29 felonies and two misdemeanors – have been filed in the bust. Those charges range from conspiracy to commit murder to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession.

Hestrin attributed the success of the operation to the cooperation between the agencies involved. That cooperation, he said, is crucial in the war against organized crime in Riverside County.

“We are facing an increasingly well-organized, well-funded and well-armed criminal organization… ” Hestrin said. “Sometimes the best defense is an offense; so this kind of proactive investigation is really the best way we’re going to put an to organized crime here in Riverside County.”

Corona Police Chief Michael Abel said the bust took a large chunk out of the gang’s income, thus weakening it.

“The large amounts of illegal drugs, currency, and most importantly the large cache of weapons seized will no doubt disrupt the criminal gang enterprise, thus making our community that much safer,” Abel said.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.