Police Chief Jos? An?bal Sanz Jimini?n personally directed a raid on several uptown slum barrios seeking to arrest the bandits that had brought a wave of violence to these areas. Following a week of undercover surveillance of the areas by some 1,000 agents, at 3 am of Saturday, 9 January, Major General Sanz Jimini?n and a contingent of more than 2,000 superior officers and corps raided the barrios of Cristo Rey, Villas Agr?colas, Capotillo and Gualey, Sim?n Bol?var and Gualey. There, they arrested dozens of suspected delinquents, including the heads of the Los Pepes, Los Pinos and Fujimori gangs, and frisked thousands of others searching for weapons. The surprise assault sought to counteract alliances of the police of the area with the gangs, denounced by Catholic Church parishioners. During the operative, the Police chief picked up the entire staffs of the Police stations, replacing these with others. In charge of Cristo Rey was placed Colonel Jose Miguel Betances Ure?a, a lawyer, journalist and policeman who served as spokesman for the North Coast Command of the Police, based in Santiago and who at the time of his appointment had been in charge of the Police station at the Palacio de Justicia of Ciudad Nueva. Major General Sanz Jimini?n said the staff of the barrio police stations would be replaced frequently so there is no time for the gangs to reach agreements with corrupt police officers. Investigations into past officers will take place, also, he said. The Police chief told agents to not be lenient with delinquents, but neither to mistreat these. He emphasized all arrested be allowed a phone call to a relative or lawyer. Sanz Jimini?n said that it is unnecessary to militarize the barrios, as was suggested by the Catholic Church. During his visit to the barrios, he spoke with the residents who received the Police with cheers. Several, though, were not optimistic, saying that many of the heavy-duty gangsters had been notified of the raid before hand and got away. Others said that the delinquents are arrested, but later promptly released by the judiciary. Sanz Jimini?n replied, "Well, we fulfill our duty by submitting them to the judiciary." Cardinal Nicol?s L?pez Rodr?guez said the police measure to raid the barrios was timid. He said that the violence and criminality the gangs and delinquents have brought to barrios will not be eliminated with "contemplations, kind words or advice." "Those people (the gangs and delinquents) are not at that level", he said. Assistant Attorney General officers participated in the arrest of the suspect delinquents. The barrios have been under siege by the gangs. Shoot outs have resulted in the death of innocent bystanders in recent weeks.
