The U.S. Justice Department has officially charged more than 80 individuals following the dismantling of a violent criminal organization operating in Puerto Rico. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the sweeping charges on Thursday during a visit to the island, highlighting the current administration's broader commitment to combating violent crime and criminal cartels.
Federal prosecutors identified the gang as “Los Baja Deo.” Based in the west coast city of Mayagüez, the group is accused of orchestrating a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned several years. Authorities report that the gang moved significant quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and other illegal substances, generating nearly $50 million in illicit proceeds. Beyond drug distribution, the group is allegedly responsible for a series of violent acts, including shootings, killings, kidnappings, and assaults. Officials specifically noted that the organization is linked to the distribution of at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or narcotics laced with the substance.
Speaking from the U.S. attorney's office in San Juan, Attorney General Blanche emphasized the federal government's unified approach to regional security. “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,” he told reporters.
The announcement serves as a key component of the Trump administration's strategy to increase oversight and law enforcement efforts in the U.S. Caribbean territory. By focusing on groups that drive drug trafficking and community violence, the administration aims to underscore its ongoing shift in Justice Department priorities, which now place a primary emphasis on tackling violent crime and illegal immigration across the country.
