47 members of the Mexican Mafia arrested in a statewide crackdown

Today’s operation targeted suspected criminal activities of the Mexican mafia and members of the Mexican drug cartel

RIVERSIDE – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest of 47 individuals; seizure of 36 firearms, including assault weapons; and seizure of 12 pounds of methamphetamine, three pounds of heroin, 120 pounds of marijuana, 60 pounds of cocaine, and $35,000 in criminal proceeds as part of a takedown of gang members in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties.

Today’s operation targeted suspected criminal activities of the Mexican mafia and members of the Mexican drug cartel, including suspected high-ranking Mexican mafia members or associates. The alleged criminal activities included extortion, illegal firearms possession, narcotics trafficking, and assaults, for the benefit of the Mexican mafia.

“There’s nothing more important for any family than securing the peace of mind that the neighborhood our children play in and that we work in is safe. We took a step in that direction with today’s arrest of gang members and seizure of firearms and drugs in Southern California,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Today’s bust is a prime example of law enforcement working together at all levels to put criminals behind bars.”

The operation was the product of a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation, Special Operations Unit (SOU), the Inland Crackdown Allied Task Force, the Riverside Police Department, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

With the help of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the SOU obtained approximately 30 felony arrest warrants, which included charges related to solicitation to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, narcotics trafficking, firearms violations, extortion, and conspiracy for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

The criminal intelligence obtained during this investigation has been shared with other law enforcement agencies in California and in other states to help combat criminal street gangs.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

See Full Bio