25 Mexican Mafia Members Arrested in California Raids

Federal authorities arrested 25 members and associates of the Mexican Mafia during coordinated early morning raids across Southern California on April 23, 2026, targeting a prison-based gang accused of orchestrating violence and drug trafficking in the region. The operation, involving the FBI and local law enforcement, focused on approximately 30 locations primarily in Orange County, south of Los Angeles, including Santa Ana and Anaheim.

The sweep resulted in three federal indictments against a total of 43 individuals, including 10 already in custody. Prosecutors charged the defendants with racketeering, drug trafficking, kidnapping, assault, extortion, murder and operating illegal gambling businesses. Authorities seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine, more than eight pounds of fentanyl, 25 firearms and over $30,000 in cash during the raids. The operation, dubbed Gangsters Paradise by investigators, aimed to disrupt the gang's control over street-level activities from within California's prison system.

The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, originated in the 1950s at a juvenile detention facility and has evolved into a powerful criminal organization that exerts influence over...