(CNN) Authorities in New York have announced a wide-ranging investigation that resulted in criminal charges against 96 MS-13 gang members on Long Island.

The two-year investigation resulted in what Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini called the biggest takedown of a street gang in New York state. The charges include murder, murder conspiracy, drug trafficking, weapons possession and gang violence.

"MS-13 is a ruthless, savage gang which commits acts of violence to recruit, retain and control its members and exact revenge on its rivals, as well as to extort innocent members of our community," Sini said in a news release. "They send portions of that money back to the leadership in their home base of El Salvador. Leaders in El Salvador run the gang by issuing orders to the local cliques here in Suffolk County."

Worldwide, 230 gang members were arrested and at least seven murder plots were interrupted, Sini said.

Nine leaders of Suffolk County cliques, or factions of the gang, were arrested, Sini said. Seized were more than 10 kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, unspecified amounts of heroin and marijuana, nine handguns, two long guns, numerous machetes and more than $200,000 cash.

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