undercover operative bought assault rifles like AK-47s and M-16s -- weapons of war that have no place in the hands of criminal gangsters

Federal agents announced Thursday they had rounded up 38 reputed Los Angeles gang members and associates on drug and gun charges.The crackdown was aimed at two factions of the notorious Bloods gang and various Crips factions that were allegedly dealing drugs and selling guns in the South Los Angeles and Baldwin village areas.
"During the investigation, an undercover operative bought assault rifles like AK-47s and M-16s -- weapons of war that have no place in the hands of criminal gangsters," Thomas O'Brien, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said in statement.
A total of 119 guns were confiscated during the investigation and an alleged ecstasy trafficking ring was broken up.The arrests that began earlier this week culminated two long-running operations conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the Los Angeles Police Department.