00:00Federal agents were seen at this location in Highland Park, cracking down on an international crime ring based in India.
00:08NBC4's Camilla Rambaldi is live in Highland Park with the ties here.
00:12Camilla.
00:13Oh, my God. They named it Hardball.
00:17Yeah. Hi, Annabelle. As you mentioned, federal agents were right here this morning in the middle of this neighborhood here
00:23in Highland Park.
00:25American federal officials are calling this Operation Hardball, and they say it's an investigation involving a murder.
00:32Oh, my God. FBI operation targets transnational crime ring and drug trafficking.
00:39Let's get you right to some video from this morning when FBI agents could be seen around this home in
00:46Highland Park off of North Avenue.
00:49It is still unclear exactly what they were looking for.
00:51Damn, this is the guns?
00:57Operation Hardball. This 11 members. Oh, wow.
01:01Operation Hardball. This 11 members. Oh, wow.
01:0337. Oh, my God.
01:12Drug trafficking. They were doing drug trafficking right there. Damn.
01:17The DOJ says a total of 23 search warrants were conducted in the Sacramento area and 11 of them in
01:24the Los Angeles area.
01:26Authorities say these arrests come after a years-long investigation.
01:30The FBI released these photos of the people arrested in California and some of the other locations include Fresno, Cypress
01:37and San Diego.
01:38Damn, Cypress, San Diego. Wow.
01:41Federal authorities say the arrests are in connection with three crime groups based in India.
01:46They also say they are looking for additional fugitives.
01:49Seven in the U.S., two in India and one in Europe.
01:52Oh, wow. They all look like a clown.
01:55Ha, ha, especially this one.
01:56The feds alleged the groups were running their networks across the country as well as in Canada, Europe and Australia.
02:02According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the alleged crimes range from targeted killings, shootings.
02:08Oh, wow. They've been doing everything.
02:10...and the trafficking of meth and cocaine across international borders.
02:14Here is more from officials this morning when the arrests were announced.
02:18They want to be a Pablo Escobar of this generation, I guess.
02:22They will use the full weight and power of the United States federal government to identify, target and dismantle these
02:31organized crime groups who prey on American communities.
02:35During the investigation, FBI agents and law enforcement officials...
02:39They found something very hardball.
02:42Yup, listen.
02:44...used over 1,000 kilograms of drugs and dozens of weapons.
02:48Yeah.
02:49...through a pattern of intimidation and violence, members and associates of this organized crime group have victimized business owners, threatened
02:57individuals and their families, and retaliated with assaults, kidnappings, shootings, and other violent acts to enforce their criminal demands.
03:07Wow. They'll be doing anything.
03:08I told you, hardball.
03:10That's why they named it in this camp.
03:15Back out here live.
03:16We did try to speak with neighbors here today.
03:19They did not want to come.
03:20And again, 37 people here now facing charges in connection with Operation Hardball.
03:26We're live in Highland Park.
03:27Damn, bro.
03:27What are your thoughts?
03:29Come in.
03:29I'm going to get you guys back here.
03:29It's a great question.
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