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81 Charged in Puerto Rico Drug Trafficking and Firearms Case

Federal indictment alleges a violent gang distributed drugs in Mayagüez and nearby areas; all defendants are presumed innocent.

3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 27, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ETUpdated Aug 29, 2026, 3:36 p.m. ET
On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that 81 members of a violent drug trafficking organization known as 'Los Baja Deo' or 'LBD' have been federally in the . The indictment, announced by Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleges that from 2021 the organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana in and around public housing projects and neighborhoods in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, according to a Justice Department press release. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The charges include drug trafficking and firearms violations. The indictment alleges that the organization used violence, including shootings, kidnappings, and murders, to protect its operations, and that members communicated via two-way radios, cell phones, and social media. Law enforcement seized 21 firearms during the investigation, and the organization is alleged to have distributed at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl and 2,200 kilograms of cocaine, generating over $49 million in proceeds, the release states. Seventy defendants were arrested yesterday, according to the release. The investigation was led by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department as part of the Homeland Security Task Force Initiative. The case remains undecided; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 29, 2026, 11:52 a.m. ET

    81 Charged in Puerto Rico Gang Indictment

    On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that 81 members of a violent drug trafficking organization known as "Los Baja Deo" or "LBD" have been charged federally in the District of Puerto Rico. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; no trial has occurred and no verdict has been reached. The indictment alleges that from 2021, the organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), cocaine, and marijuana within 1,000 feet of numerous public housing projects and neighborhoods in Mayagüez and nearby areas, for significant financial gain and profit. The charges include drug trafficking and firearms violations, according to a press release from the Justice Department. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

  2. Aug 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ETFirst report

    81 Members of Violent Gang in Puerto Rico Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

    On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that 81 members of a violent drug trafficking organization known as 'Los Baja Deo' (LBD) have been charged federally in Puerto Rico. The charges, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, include drug trafficking and firearms violations. The announcement was made by Attorney General Todd Blanche, who stated that the defendants are alleged drug traffickers who maintained a steady supply of highly addictive substances, endangering communities in Mayagüez and nearby areas.

    The indictment alleges that from 2021, the organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana, often within 1,000 feet of public housing projects and other locations. Law enforcement seized 21 firearms during the investigation. It is estimated that the organization was responsible for distributing at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics and at least 2,200 kilograms of cocaine, generating over $49 million in proceeds. The defendants face a minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted on drug charges, and a minimum of 15 years to life if also convicted on firearms charges.

    The investigation was led by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department, with support from multiple federal and local agencies as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Initiative. The arrests of 70 defendants occurred the day before the announcement. These charges are only at the charging stage, and the case has not been decided. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Revision history

  1. Version 229 Aug 2026, 19:36current

    Updated to reflect the official announcement date and clarify the charging stage.

  2. Version 129 Aug 2026, 15:23

    First published.

  3. Version 127 Aug 2026, 21:00current

    First published.

  4. Version 129 Aug 2026, 15:52current

    First published.

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