130 People Arrested in Illegal Gambling Raids, FBI Reports
FBI and Local Law Enforcement Conduct Major Drug Operation in Los Angeles
Federal authorities, in collaboration with local law enforcement, have executed 36 joint operations that resulted in over 200 arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs, the FBI announced on Monday.
The FBI’s Los Angeles office has enhanced its resources for Operation Coast to Coast, initiated in December. This operation falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, which was established following an executive order by President Donald Trump. The mission aims to dismantle "criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad," according to FBI officials.
The operation led to the filing of 92 criminal complaints after 223 individuals were arrested in the Los Angeles area. Agents executed eight search warrants, including one in Mexico, resulting in the confiscation of over 102 kilograms of fentanyl, 470 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 29 firearms. Approximately $3,000 in cash was also recovered.
Operation Coast to Coast specifically targeted illegal gambling establishments, referred to as “casitas,” reportedly run by local gangs. These operations facilitated drug sales, prostitution, and firearms trafficking. More than 130 people were detained at these locations across Los Angeles, with similar searches conducted in Montclair and San Bernardino.
In Long Beach, several alleged gang members, including those from Florencia-13 and East Side Longos, were arrested on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Notably, at least one individual was apprehended for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The Los Angeles Police Department, the LA County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were among the local agencies collaborating with federal officials on this extensive operation.
