Forty-six alleged members and associates of the Latin King street gang today were charged with federal and state drug offenses

Forty-six alleged members and associates of the Latin King street gang today were charged with federal and state drug offenses, police said. Forty people were picked up this morning in a sweep by federal, state, county and city law enforcement officials. Six remain at large. The 18-month investigation is the second in the past six years of the Latin Kings in New Bedford. A 2006 sweep resulted in the arrests of 37 Latin King members and associates. The investigation involved surveillance, including wiretap, and controlled drug buys, police said. Law enforcement officials, speaking today at a press conference in police headquarters on Rockdale Avenue, said that in 2010 they began to see an increase in street-level sales of cocaine, along with violence in areas of the city known to be occupied by the Latin Kings. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said today's sweeps, which were largely conducted in the North End, will improve the safety of many of the city's neighborhoods. "The goal of today's raids was to remove dangerous gang members from the street and disrupt their violent activities. Our collaborative efforts do not end with the arrests today," Ortiz said. "Our goal is to keep the streets safe so people can live their lives without fear."