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Dem Hoodstarz’ Band Aide and Scoot, who recently appeared on the cover of OZONE’s All Star special edition, were one of 30+ alleged gang members arrested on March 7 2009 morning in an FBI sting in East Palo Alto, CA according to ktvu.com. More info and video clips available here: http://www.ktvu.com/news/18879056/detail.html

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. — City, state and federal law enforcement officials arrested more than 30 people and seized drugs, firearms and several vehicles Saturday morning during raids across the Bay Area that were carried out to dismantle one of the region’s most notorious gangs, according to the FBI.

An 18-month gang investigation, sparked by an increase in violence, led to numerous search and arrest warrants throughout the Bay Area, said East Palo Alto Police Department Capt. Carl Estelle.

The raid in the 1400 block of Camellia Drive and Gardenia Way in East Palo Alto, which began at about 7 a.m., was part of the larger operation involving about 500 law enforcement personnel across 20 jurisdictions at about 30 locations in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Jose, Emeryville, Gilroy, Sunnyvale, Oakland, San Mateo, Redwood City, Hayward, Belmont, Fremont, San Leandro and Newark.

According to residents in the East Palo Alto neighborhood that was raided, smoke bombs were detonated, doors were broken and fences tore down as part of the operation. Neighbors watched in surprise as local humane society officials confiscated pit bulls from homes on the block.

“I was awakened by a big boom. And another one — boom!,” said East Palo Alto resident Jesus Avalos. “I was like ‘Wow, what’s going on?’. I looked out the window and I see FBI, military people and cops from all diferent cities.”Five hundred FBI agents and officers with guns drawn simultaneously stormed into dozens of Bay Area neighborhoods early this morning in vehicle caravans, serving about 30 search warrants, in what they call one of the largest collaborative gang crackdowns in Bay Area history.

“They woke me up from my sleep,” said resident Richard Sayles. “The guy said they’re coming for a raid… They just stormed through the house, pointing their guns.””(The raid) will result in dismantling one of the most notorious gangs in East Palo Alto,” East Palo Alto Chief of Police Ronald Davis said at a news conference following the local raid. “I’m confident that this will have a positive effect and reduce violence in East Palo Alto. But tomorrow is a new day and we will target a new gang.”

Menlo Park Police Department Chief of Police Bruce Goitia called today’s raid “the most significant operation in the last 20 years” and said the investment by law enforcement has paid dividends in securing the safety and quality of life of the community.

East Palo Alto police Detective Ed Soares said methods used by street gangs have become increasingly sophisticated with the advancement of technology and they are now operated similar to a business.”It’s a constant cat and mouse game,” Soares said.

The East Palo Alto and Menlo Park-based “Taliban” gang formed in 2002, an off-shoot of a smaller gang called the Midtown Hogs, in response to a conflict between the rival Sac Street gang. The Taliban gang started with 10 members but grew in size and force when the Sac Street gang was dismantled by police in 2006 in “Operation: Disrupt and Dismantle.

“Members of the gang mainly consist of black men ranging in age from 19 to 47 years old who wear green camouflage. Its members have been arrested for at least 237 crimes and are suspected of being involved in homicides, drug trafficking, weapons possession, armed robberies and strong-arm robberies, according to FBI Special Agent Joseph Schadler.“To those gang members who may be watching this press conference, let there be no mistake: Your days of terrorizing this community and other communities are few and you are next,” said Davis.

In addition to local and state authorities, FBI SWAT teams from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego assisted.Police say they’re about 3/4 of the way done with this operation. The suspects will make their initial court appearances Monday in Oakland.

Band-Aide & Scoot as Dem HoodStarz were going to release their album, “Black Friday” in November but with a delay, They are going to drop their next mixtape, Cheech & Chong Vol. 2, a sequal to the first mixed by Dj J-Spin & Dj Rah2k. Hopefully we can find more information about Band-Aids arrest and charges soon and hopefully we can wait till they drop more songs and expected albums and mixtapes in the future. Here is Dem HoodStarz latest single: Dem Hoodstarz – “Laughin” Produced by David Banner:

-Dj Tre