WATERBURY — Nearly 80 people, many associated with the Latin Kings gang, were charged Friday with drug and gun crimes after raids throughout the city. Police are searching for about 20 others who face drug dealing charges.

"We feel we've targeted and apprehended the worst of the worst," said Police Superintendent Neil O'Leary.

The arrests came after a 10-month joint investigation between Waterbury police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The operation, dubbed "Royal Flush," is the fourth joint investigation between the two agencies since 2005, but it's easily the biggest.

Most of the 105 people police obtained arrest warrant have serious criminal records. Seventy-eight have been convicted of felonies and 47 are multiple felons. More disturbing, according to O'Leary, is that 38 have convictions for violent felonies, 20 of which involved weapons.

As part of the investigation, police said they bought 33 guns from 19 people, two other guns were seized during Friday's raid, which was conducted by nearly 300 ATF agents and police officers from Waterbury and surrounding towns.

"What was scary to me was the firepower," O'Leary said of the seized guns. Police bought six illegal assault rifles and his powered firearms, including AK-47s, Tec-9s and AR-15s.

 ---

Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com