Dozens of suspected gang members and drug dealers are taken off the streets during an early morning FBI bust in Middletown. Our Venise Toussaint has the details.

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MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- With their hands in cuffs, more than 30 suspected members of the violent Bloods street gang were escorted into the FBI regional office in Goshen. According to a federal indictment, the suspects, members of the “9 trey” subset of the Bloods, pushed heroin, cocaine and marijuana for distribution in and around Middletown.

“We’re going to continue the battle, continue the fight, especially in regards to gang activity and illegal drug activity,” said Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano.

Several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies used helicopters, swat teams and the man power of about 150 officers early Thursday morning to make the arrests.

The FBI and police have raided several neighborhoods in Middletown, including one formerly known as Little Italy. People who have lived here for a long time say the neighborhood use to be safe and they’re shocked and saddened by the violence.

“It was like one big happy family,” said longtime resident Ronald Davis.

Davis, 79, has raised his family and lived in this neighborhood for more than 40 years. He says he remembers the days when he could walk down the street at any time of day or night. Now, he says he wouldn’t dare.

“It’s a sad situation to have lived here for so long and see the shootings, stabbings. It’s hard,” Davis said.

Mayor DeStefano says he and the gang task force remain committed to ridding the city of drugs and violence

“We will use whatever resources at our disposal to bring an end to it,” DeStefano said.

So far, the safe streets task force has gotten a total of 150 alleged gang members and drug dealers off the streets.