In the latest salvo in the war on drugs, law enforcement is employing a long term strategy. Santa Cruz Police have partnered with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a concerted effort over the past 5 months.  The effort has been called Operation Southern Exposure and has recently resulted in 42 drug arrests.

This partnership has been an effort to stem the flow of controlled substances in the Central Coast area. In pursuing that goal, they are specifically targeting gangs suspected of smuggling and distribution. Authorities state that six of those arrested are members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), an international organization with ties to Central America, dating back to the 1980s.