A federal indictment was unsealed in the District of Puerto Rico on May 12, charging six individuals with 23 counts including racketeering, murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms violations. The charges relate to a transnational criminal organization based in Añasco that allegedly coordinated large-scale drug trafficking operations with sources from Venezuela, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
The case highlights efforts by law enforcement to combat violent crime and organized drug activity affecting communities in Puerto Rico. W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico said: “This indictment not only alleges crimes of violence but also alleges that these offenses were committed openly and brazenly, and innocent members of the community were killed. These crimes have no place in our society, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are fully committed to bringing perpetrators to justice and making our communities safer.”
Rebecca González-Ramos, HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge said: “This operation demonstrates the relentless commitment of the Homeland Security Task Force, and our law enforcement partners to dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations operating in Puerto Rico and beyond. This fourth phase of the operation builds on years of investigative work to ensure that dangerous criminal leaders...remain behind bars while HSI and its partners continue targeting the drug trafficking, violence, and money laundering networks threatening our communities.” Carlos R. Goris from FBI’s San Juan Field Office added: “Today’s operation demonstrates that no criminal network is untouchable when law enforcement components work together with focus... The FBI and our Homeland Security Task Force partners remain committed to identifying...the individuals and financial networks that enable this violence...”
According to prosecutors, members used boats to import multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine into Puerto Rico before distributing drugs further into the continental United States. The indictment details several murders allegedly carried out by organization members between April 2020 through April 2022 as part of internal disputes or attempts at witness retaliation.
If convicted on all counts—including racketeering conspiracy; conspiracy related to narcotics importation; murders-in-aid-of racketeering; witness retaliation conspiracy; firearms possession during drug trafficking; money laundering conspiracy—the defendants face up to life imprisonment or possibly death penalty eligibility for two named defendants.
The prosecution is part of a broader Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating transnational crime groups through interagency collaboration among federal agencies such as FBI, ICE-HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives), IRS Criminal Investigation Division as well as state/local police departments.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico supports public safety by handling federal crimes including civil rights violations; enforces federal laws through prosecutions/litigation; serves all areas within its jurisdiction for federal law enforcement efforts; offers mechanisms for reporting crime/fraud; operates against public corruption/drug trafficking—all according to information from the official website.
An indictment is an allegation only—defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
