RICHMOND (KRON) – U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello says the arrests of 14 alleged “mid-level” drug and gun traffickers Wednesday morning are part of continued efforts to cut off traffic connections to Mexico.

The suspects were individually arraigned in San Francisco’s U.S. District Court. In some cases they were charged with half a dozen counts of trafficking in specific drugs including methamphetamine, crack and heroin. They face fines up to $4 million and in some cases, life in prison.

Authorities say a few others were charged with being felons possessing a firearm. Some of those arrested are suspected of being the “muscle” in the trafficking operation and could be charged with other offenses later.

Russoniello says evidence leads officials to believe those arrested are part of two groups that are headquartered in Mexico, “Our intelligence demonstrates that some of the key people are outside the country. And so what you find operating in the communities are what we consider mid-level players.”

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms along with a number of federal and local law enforcement agencies led simultaneous raids in San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland, Fremont and Redwood City.  Witness say they saw agents removing weapons from some of the properties targeting in the strikes.

Witnesses say officers poured out of a U-Haul truck during the raid on Bissel Avenue.

"It's sad," neighbor Mayra Panarnguel said. "We have never had any problems here.  I'm confused.  There was ATF, ICE and police.  It's confusing and sad."

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