The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday the indictment of 81 alleged members of Los Baja Deo (LBD), a Puerto Rico-based drug trafficking organization. The operation, conducted by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department, resulted in the arrest of 70 individuals on Wednesday.
According to Attorney General Todd Blanche, LBD has been active for years throughout the western part of the U.S. territory. The indictments charge the suspects with drug possession and distribution offenses stemming from activities that prosecutors allege began in 2021. An additional 21 defendants face charges for illegal firearms possession.
Prosecutors stated that the organization allegedly distributed substantial amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and marijuana, generating approximately $49 million in illicit proceeds. Blanche described the group as maintaining a "steady supply of highly addictive and potentially lethal substances that endangered the community, fueled addiction and exposed entire public housing projects in Mayagüez and nearby neighborhoods to violence and chaos."
The takedown operation was the result of an investigation by a San Juan Homeland Security Task Force. Blanche highlighted the operation as a significant success for Homeland Security in combating violent crime and the illegal flow of narcotics. He indicated that the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests could occur.
During the same press conference, Blanche also announced an operation targeting Los Choneros and Los Lobos, Ecuador-based drug trafficking organizations. This operation led to 26 arrests, including four alleged leaders of the Los Lobos cartel. Authorities seized one metric ton of cocaine, approximately $1 million in U.S. currency, 35 rifles, 26 vehicles, over 40 cell phones, and an airplane. Three clandestine airports and landing strips were also destroyed.
Los Choneros and Los Lobos have been designated as terrorist groups by the U.S. since August of the previous year. Blanche referred to drug dealers as terrorists, citing efforts to interdict cocaine shipments destined for the United States.
Additionally, the department announced the extradition of Erick Randhiel Mosquea Polanco, a wanted cocaine trafficker, from the Dominican Republic. He was transported from Colombia to San Juan to face charges in two separate cases and also faces federal money laundering charges in New Jersey.