Homeland Security Task Force members from a variety of federal law enforcement agencies announced a major arrest in Puerto Rico taking down a large narcotrafficking network and criminal underground.  [Press Release] According to the DOJ, 23 people were arrested with 14 potentially facing life in prison and death sentence eligible.

Charges range from RICO organization, money laundering, murder, drug crimes, racketeering and firearms violations.  The joint task force effort took down a large network as noted in the press release. “The transnational criminal organization referred to as La Familia Nunca Muere (LFNM), composed of Las FARC (also known as Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Cantera and Las FARC Company), Cantera Nueva Generación (CNG) and other gangs from the areas of San Juan, Bayamón, Comerío, Trujillo Alto and Carolina including its members and associates, constituted an “Enterprise,” as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1961(4) (“the Enterprise”), that is, a group of individuals associated in fact, whose members functioned as a continuing unit for a common purpose of achieving the objectives of the Enterprise. The Enterprise was engaged in, and its activities affected interstate and foreign commerce.”

DOJ – SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On May 12, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 23 members of a racketeering enterprise known as La Familia Nunca Muere (LFNM) with racketeering—murder, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

“This criminal Enterprise used gun violence and murder as mere business tools to maintain power and control. The filing of RICO charges gives us the capacity to systematically dismantle the violent gangs that fuel bloodshed and keep families living in fear,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “These charges are a key part of our unified strategy to eradicate drug driven gang violence in our communities. Through RICO charges prosecutors can charge and bring to justice the entire criminal Enterprise as one organization—we can reach every participant from leadership to street level shooters and show a pattern of coordinated crime across gangs rather than isolated acts. It allows us to tell the full story of how different gangs coordinated murders, drug trafficking, and intimidation to advance a shared enterprise, instead of presenting each case as a stand-alone crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these gangs wherever they operate and will not relent until our neighborhoods are safe.”

“Violence of this magnitude will not become the norm in Puerto Rico, and the DEA, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to confronting it head-on,” said DEA Caribbean Division Special agent in Charge Michael Mayer. “This investigation targeted individuals who believed they could use murder and intimidation to strengthen their criminal organization and spread fear throughout our communities. What they encountered instead was a united effort by federal and local agencies working side by side, sharing intelligence, resources, and manpower to dismantle those responsible. This case represents far more than arrests and indictments, it represents our collective determination to protect the public, disrupt violent criminal networks, and restore safety to the communities affected by this violence.” (read more)

[2026 Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Directive]