FBI indict 43 people tied to the Mexican Mafia after Southern California raids
Published by RawNews1st
8:25 am ( 4/25/2026 )
Multiple federal agencies executed search and arrest warrants at 30 locations around Southern California targeting Mexican Mafia members Thursday, which led to more than two dozen arrests in connection with federal charges, the FBI announced.
Most of the locations were in Orange County, where raids were conducted and 43 people indicted and taken into federal custody, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media. The Department of Justice announced that 25 people were arrested Thursday who were known members or suspected associates of a notorious prison gang based in Southern California.
According to authorities, officers seized four kilograms of fentanyl, 54.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 0.9 kilogram of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine, 25 firearms, and more than $30,000 in cash.
“Gang members who murder, extort, kidnap, and traffic drugs and firearms are a menace to our communities and our way of life,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “Today’s arrests highlight the continuing cooperation between federal and local law enforcement against violent felons and our unyielding determination to crack down on organized crime in our prisons and our streets.”
Specifically, Cardenas is charged with directing high-ranking associates to carry out violent acts, including the March 2025 kidnapping and assault of an employee at a gang-controlled “slap house” in Stanton, as well as various other kidnappings and assaults against individuals in bad standing with the enterprise.
“It paints a disturbing picture of how the gang’s tentacles extend from state prison into our county jails and on through the streets to influence Latino street gangs and drug dealers,” Essayli said.
In addition to the arrests, officials said they seized 25 firearms, 120 lbs. of methamphetamine, 2 lbs. of heroin, 6.6 lbs. of cocaine, 5,000+ fentanyl pills, and more than $30,000 in cash.
“When we say things like, this guy sold 5,000 pills, that’s potentially 5,000 people that can be killed on that,” Essayli said. “The stuff that we’re taking off the streets is very, very, very dangerous and these guys have no regard for human life.”
