Sweeping gang investigation in West Oakland nets 12 arrests for guns, drugs

Police arrested at least 1 2 people and issued 16 search warrants in a sprawling criminal gang operation based out of West Oakland, authorities said Thursday . Police arrested at least 12 people and issued 16 search warrants in a sprawling criminal gang operation based out of West Oakland, authorities said Thursday. Photo: / Photo: / Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Sweeping gang investigation in West Oakland nets 12 arrests for guns, drugs 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Police arrested at least 12 people and issued 16 search warrants in a sprawling criminal gang operation based out of West Oakland, authorities said Thursday.

Officials from the Oakland Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies began issuing the warrants early Thursday morning, and more arrests were expected throughout the day, acting Deputy Chief Roland Holmgren said.

The warrants include a range of crimes committed in Oakland and beyond, Holmgren said, including weapons offenses, burglary and murder.

“I think what’s significant about this group is that they pretty much had no boundaries,” Holmgren said. “They had no reservations about starting the day like you and I would to go to work, except their activities would lead to conducting crime throughout their days, no matter where they were.”

Investigators recovered several weapons and a “large quantity” of narcotics, Holmgren said.

Police have not yet released the name of the gang or individuals arrested because the investigation is ongoing.

Holmgren described the operation as the result of a long-term, multiagency investigation among the Oakland police, the Department of Justice, Alameda and Contra Costa County sheriff’s offices, Hayward and Richmond police, California Highway Patrol and the FBI.

“I think it’s really going to have a significant impact,” he said. “I hope it serves as a warning to those groups that it’s not OK to go out and terrorize our communities, that this will not be tolerated.”

Officials were expected to release more information Thursday afternoon.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy