Kathmandu— The United States Department of Justice announced the indictment of 81 individuals allegedly connected to the Los Baja Deo (LBD) criminal group on Thursday, with arrests carried out in Puerto Rico. Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed the charges during a visit to the US territory, following the apprehension of 70 defendants by the FBI and local police. The operation targets drug and weapons violations stemming from activities dating back to 2021, and is part of a larger initiative under President Donald Trump aimed at dismantling criminal organizations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Large-Scale Indictment Details

The indictment alleges that LBD members distributed drugs – including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana – in and around public housing projects and neighborhoods within Mayaguez, a city on the western side of Puerto Rico. Authorities claim the group also utilized the US Postal Service to ship narcotics from the island to the mainland. Over the past five years, LBD is accused of trafficking at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced substances and over 2,200 kilograms of cocaine, generating more than $49 million in illicit proceeds.

Escalating Federal Efforts

The arrests are the result of work by Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force, established in 2025 via executive order. The task force comprises over 9,000 federal agents, officers and analysts dedicated to targeting cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations across the United States. FBI Director Kash Patel described the law enforcement work as “outstanding,” stating that the arrests disrupted a violent drug-trafficking organization in western Puerto Rico and severed a key pipeline of drugs flowing into the country.

Trump Administration's Hardline Approach

This crackdown is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to weaken criminal organizations across the Western Hemisphere, which it refers to as “America’s neighborhood.” The administration has pledged to take aggressive action against suspected drug traffickers, frequently labeling them as “narco-terrorists”. Since September 2, 2025, the administration has authorized bombing campaigns targeting small boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific suspected of carrying drugs, resulting in the deaths of approximately 227 people. Critics have raised concerns about these actions, alleging they justify extrajudicial killings and abuses of power.

Potential Penalties and Asset Seizure

Defendants facing drug-related charges could receive a minimum sentence of ten years in prison, while those accused of both drug and firearms offenses face at least fifteen years. A conviction on either charge carries the possibility of life imprisonment. In addition to criminal penalties, the Justice Department is seeking to seize $49.7 million in assets connected to the alleged illegal activities.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to pursue additional leads and dismantle remaining networks associated with LBD. The case highlights the Trump administration’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and transnational crime through aggressive law enforcement measures.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.