Seven suspected gang members arrested, weapons and drugs seized leaves an LAPD and FBI operation
Time to Read: 2 minute
Eleven alleged gang members and the seizure of weapons and drugs was the result of an operation between the Los Angeles police and the FBI
The arrest of eleven suspected gang members and the seizure of large amounts of weapons and narcotics was the result of an operation carried out this Wednesday morning by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FB I).
The operation was carried out as part of an investigation called “Operation Wipe Out”, which focused on the illegal trafficking of arms and drugs by two gangs: Westside Wilmas and Eastside Wilmas.
Operation “wipe out”
— LAPD Harbor Division (@LapdHarborDiv) May 17, 2023
Over two years in the making. LAPD Harbor Division gang investigators along side with FBI LA Office agents come together to make over 7 major gang arrests and seize stock piles of guns and drugs out of the Wilmington area. Job well done. pic.twitter.com/fvaeLglQv3
During the early hours of this Wednesday, the authorities executed several search warrants and seven people were arrested on federal charges and four more on state charges .
Related: Los Angeles Police and FBI announce arrest of high-ranking members of the Mexican Mafia
Agents also seized 23 illegal firearms, 23,000 fentanyl pills, and about 57 pounds of methamphetamine.
“Today's arrests mark the end of an investigation launched in late 2020 that focused on some of the most dangerous gang members in the Harbor area,” said US Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.
The authorities reported that three other suspects are being sought, Fernando Nava, Iliana Zepeda and Ramón González, considered federal fugitives .
The LA Organized Crime Task Force made 12 arrests today & are seeking 3 fugitives as part of "Operation WipeOut," an investigation into firearms & narcotics trafficking in the #Harbor area of Los Angeles. If you have a tip, please call @FBILosAngeles or @LAPDHQ. #WantedWednesday pic.twitter.com/5d7ftuQ6OJ
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 17, 2023
During the press conference on Wednesday, the officials presented a large number of weapons, including so-called ghost pistols and semi-automatic weapons, as well as photographs of the drugs that were seized during the search warrants.
It is suspected that those arrested could be related to the Sinaloa Cartel, from Mexico, which, according to the spokesman for the Federal prosecutor, is flooding California with fentanyl .
“It may seem incredible how many people could have died as a result of this drug hitting the streets. A substantial portion of the fentanyl that is distributed in the United States is attributed to the Sinaloa Cartel and another cartel in Mexico, but the Sinaloa cartel tends to traffic more to the California area,” Mrozek said.
The authorities assured that the arrest of the suspected gang members and the seizure of weapons and drugs were carried out without incident.
The Justice Department said both the Westside Wilmas gang and the Eastside Wilmas gang are based in the Wilmington neighborhood , near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
According to investigators, the gangs are controlled by splinter members of the Mexican Mafia who are serving life sentences for murder in California state prisons.