US Justice Dept charges over 80 in Puerto Rico gang takedown

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

The U.S. Justice Department has charged over 80 members of the Puerto Rican gang "Los Baja Deo" for their involvement in extensive fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, as well as violent crimes. This operation aims to dismantle a criminal network responsible for nearly $50 million in drug revenue and restore safety in Mayagüez and surrounding communities.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Justice Department has charged more than 80 individuals in connection with the dismantling of a violent gang operating in Puerto Rico, officials announced Tuesday. The operation targets the group known as "Los Baja Deo," which federal authorities say has been involved for years in trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and other illicit drugs from the western city of Mayagüez.

Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking during a visit to Puerto Rico, detailed that the gang generated nearly $50 million in revenue through its narcotics activities. Beyond drug trafficking, "Los Baja Deo" has been linked to multiple violent crimes, including shootings, killings, kidnappings, and assaults, according to federal prosecutors. The group is believed to have distributed at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced substances.

“Our Homeland Security Task Forces around the country are unified and they’re unified to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations around the United States,” Blanche said at a press conference held at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Juan.

The announcement comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader emphasis on combating violent crime and drug trafficking, with Justice Department policies sharply focused on curbing illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations that jeopardize public safety. Blanche’s presence in Puerto Rico was intended to highlight the administration’s commitment to these objectives, particularly in U.S. territories affected by gang violence.

Acting U.S. Attorney for Puerto Rico Héctor Ramírez-Carbó praised the takedown, stating, “These 81 violent gang members will now face justice and so will any other that try to take their place.” He added that the operation aims to restore security and allow the residents of Mayagüez to live without fear.

The coordinated law enforcement effort reflects ongoing initiatives by federal agencies to disrupt criminal networks and reduce the impact of drug trafficking in communities throughout the United States and its territories.

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