( CNN ) -- Authorities arrested more than 100 members and associates of the street gang the Mexican Mafia in southern California as part of investigation into a wide range of offenses such as racketeering , kidnapping , attempted murder and drug trafficking , federal officials said . The arrests were made primarily in San Diego County and were the culmination of three major investigations on gang activity in the area , U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said Wednesday . In early morning raids , federal and local authorities rounded up 104 suspects . The charges are detailed in 17 indictments and eight criminal complaints filed by the U.S. attorney 's office in San Diego . In all 119 suspected gang members were charged and authorities were trying to track down the remaining fugitives , Duffy said . The suspects are part of 20 major street gangs that were overseen by the Mexican Mafia , authorities said . `` Gangs were made to pay taxes in order to facilitate their trafficking and violent behavior , '' said San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore .
The arrests were made primarily in San Diego County . The alleged offenses include kidnapping , attempted murder and drug trafficking . The suspects are part of 20 street gangs that were overseen by the Mexican Mafia .