Stockton, CA – MBNel, a rising rapper in Stockton, California was among 34 individuals who were arrested on Thursday (October 15) as part of a sting operation titled “Operation Criptonyte,” aimed at disrupting street gangs in the city.
According to local affiliate ABC 10, the Stockton Police Department had been conducting the operation since June, resulting in 55 search warrants, 38 recovered firearms, $40,000 seized and the aforementioned arrests.
Additionally, law enforcement seized roughly one pound of cocaine, five pounds of methamphetamine, 1,300 pills of ecstasy and “an abundance of marijuana.”
The Stockton Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit worked with other agencies across the state of California for Operation Criptonyte, including Sacramento, Modesto, Manteca. Among the gangs the various agencies targeted include the Asian Boyz, Muddy Boyz Crips, Lil Ruthless Criminals Comstocc Crips, Loctown Crips, and Asian Crip criminal street gangs.
MBNel’s name has been buzzing in Stockton, including a feature from Mozzy in “How It Go” in 2018 and his heartfelt “Dear Jhené,” single, dedicated to his then unborn daughter in 2019.
Watch the video for his latest single, “Sincerely,” below.