Dozens of Mexican mafia members arrested in California crackdown
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen members and associates of the Mexican mafia in a crackdown across southern California, primarily in Orange County.
- A total of 43 individuals were indicted on charges including murder, kidnapping, extortion, illegal gambling, and drug trafficking.
- Officials seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine, over 8 pounds of fentanyl, 25 firearms, and more than $30,000 in cash during the operations.
- The indictment alleges a jailed leader used contraband cellphones to direct criminal activities, including ordering kidnappings and assaults, from prison between June 2024 and April 2025.
- The Mexican mafia operates illegal gambling businesses, collects extortion fees, and is suspected of involvement in a murder at a gang-controlled motel in Anaheim.
