By MES Dispatch staff
SANTA ANA, CA — Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen members and associates of the Mexican Mafia Thursday in a multi-agency operation across Southern California, officials said.
The FBI and other federal and local law enforcement agencies executed search and arrest warrants at about 30 locations, primarily in Orange County south of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said a total of 43 individuals, including those already in custody, have been indicted on federal charges such as murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking and running illegal gambling operations.
Officials reported seizing approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 8 pounds of fentanyl, 25 firearms and over $30,000 in cash during the operation.
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli described the seized illegal drugs and weapons as “very, very dangerous” during a news conference in Santa Ana.
The Mexican Mafia, originating in the 1950s in a juvenile jail, has evolved into a powerful criminal organization that law enforcement says controls illicit activities from inside California’s prison system.
Defendants are expected to make initial appearances in federal courts in Los Angeles and Orange counties in the coming days as the investigation continues.