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Federal authorities announced Friday that nearly 50 members and associates of the Latin Kings street gang have been arrested as part of a sweeping, multistate operation aimed at disrupting gang-related crime, drug trafficking and violence across the United States.
The effort, dubbed “Operation Broken Crown,” involved more than a dozen FBI field offices working with federal, state, local and tribal law-enforcement partners over a three-month period, the bureau said.
Officials said agents seized more than a dozen firearms, nearly $200,000 in illicit funds and over 10 kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl and other narcotics during the operation, which began in October 2025.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the operation’s results and said in a statement that the bureau will continue efforts to dismantle violent gangs and safeguard communities.
“Under President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, this FBI is dismantling violent gang networks in America at a record clip — breaking their operations and saving lives in the process,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News.
“In 2025 we saw a 210% increase in gang takedowns from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, and now just weeks in to 2026, we’re announcing another 3 month takedown operation,” he continued.
Patel said the bureau “will continue working 24/7 to crush violent crime and eliminate networks facilitating harm on the American people.”
The arrests included alleged gang members charged with a range of offenses, including federal firearm and narcotics violations. In some cases, alleged Latin Kings members have also been charged in separate incidents, including federal complaints arising from the theft of a rifle from an FBI vehicle during another enforcement action.
In addition to the arrests, law-enforcement personnel serving search warrants in January in the Milwaukee area detained several gang members on drug trafficking and firearm possession charges, resulting in the seizure of additional weapons and cash.
The Latin Kings is one of the largest street gangs operating in multiple states, and federal officials said the arrests represent a coordinated step to disrupt its criminal networks and reduce the threat posed by organized gang activity.
Earlier this month, Patel praised agents in Illinois on Tuesday for arresting over 60 individuals in just one week as part of the Justice Department’s operation. During the operation, 63 criminal offenders were apprehended, along with the seizure of 2.5 pounds of narcotics and $15,000 in cash.
The mission was conducted in the Southern District of Illinois and was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Illinois State Police, the ATF Chicago, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Great work [FBI Springfield] and partners,” Patel noted on X. “60+ arrests in just 7 days and American streets safer because of it. FBI continues to have a historic year coordinating with LEO’s across the country and cracking down on crime.”
The arrests were linked to a larger nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combating violent crime and drug distribution.
“Operations like this reflect the strength that comes from close cooperation among law enforcement agencies,” FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson said. “By working together, we are able to locate and apprehend individuals who drive violent crime into our communities.
“The successful arrests made during this sweep represent FBI Springfield’s continued commitment to crushing violent crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe,” he added.
Federal authorities also announced this month that they disrupted a credible terrorist threat over the weekend by arresting four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group. These individuals are accused of planning coordinated bombings in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve.
The FBI told Fox News Digital that the suspects identified themselves as part of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a group driven by pro-Palestinian, anti-law enforcement, and anti-government ideologies.
Federal authorities announced a large-scale enforcement action targeting members and associates of the Latin Kings, one of the most widely known street gangs operating across multiple U.S. states. The operation, described as “Operation Broken Crown,” resulted in nearly 50 arrests following a coordinated three-month investigation involving multiple FBI field offices and numerous federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. Officials emphasized that the primary goal was to disrupt organized criminal activity, including drug trafficking, illegal firearms distribution, and violent gang-related offenses that have long been associated with the group’s operations in various urban and regional areas.
According to law enforcement statements, the operation involved extensive surveillance, intelligence sharing, and coordinated raids carried out over several months beginning in October 2025. Authorities reported the seizure of more than a dozen firearms, close to $200,000 in illicit cash, and significant quantities of narcotics including cocaine, fentanyl, and other controlled substances. Officials described these seizures as part of a broader effort to weaken the financial and operational infrastructure of the gang, reducing its ability to conduct illegal activities and exert influence in affected communities. The scale of the operation was highlighted as an example of increased interagency cooperation aimed at addressing organized crime more effectively.
FBI leadership publicly praised the results of the operation, with statements attributed to Director Kash Patel emphasizing a continued commitment to dismantling violent criminal networks. Patel noted that the bureau has intensified its focus on gang-related activity, citing increased numbers of arrests and enforcement actions compared to previous years. He framed the operation as part of a broader national strategy to improve public safety and reduce the impact of violent crime on communities. Additional comments highlighted ongoing coordination with the Department of Justice and other federal partners, reflecting a unified approach to addressing complex criminal organizations that operate across jurisdictional boundaries.
Beyond the Latin Kings arrests, officials referenced other related enforcement actions targeting additional criminal groups and individuals involved in drug trafficking and weapons violations. In some cases, suspects were charged in connection with broader investigations involving theft of firearms and other serious offenses linked to ongoing gang activity. Separate operations in regions such as the Milwaukee and Illinois areas were also cited, where dozens of additional arrests were made as part of coordinated sweeps. These actions were presented as part of a larger pattern of sustained enforcement activity aimed at reducing violent crime and disrupting criminal supply chains.
Law enforcement representatives from participating agencies emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving the operation’s outcomes. Officials from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and state police departments all contributed resources and personnel to the effort. They noted that intelligence sharing, joint planning, and synchronized execution were essential to identifying targets, conducting arrests, and securing evidence. Agency leaders described the operation as an example of how coordinated law enforcement strategies can enhance effectiveness against complex and decentralized criminal networks that operate across multiple regions.
The broader context of the announcement included references to ongoing national efforts to combat violent crime and extremist threats. Officials pointed to additional recent arrests involving individuals accused of plotting attacks or engaging in ideologically motivated criminal activity. While details varied across cases, authorities emphasized that proactive investigations and preventive interventions were central to maintaining public safety. The overall message conveyed by law enforcement leaders was that sustained pressure on organized crime and extremist networks would continue, with further operations expected as part of long-term national security and public safety strategies.
