Nearly two dozen people have been arrested as part of a massive investigation in Alabama targeting criminal activity associated with a violent street gang.

Operation Gang Shield, launched seven months ago, focused on members of the SMM gang, Sex Money Murder, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones announced Thursday.

The gang is a faction of the United Blood Nation, originally founded in the late 1980’s in New York City.

Jones said the gang is known for its hierarchical structure and involvement in violent crime, narcotics offenses, and organized criminal conspiracies across multiple states.

In recent years, SMM has expanded its footprint into smaller communities throughout the southeastern U.S.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office started the investigation in May with help from state and federal la

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