FBI, California Law Enforcement Tackle Major Illegal Gambling Ring
Federal authorities, working alongside multiple local law enforcement agencies, conducted 36 coordinated enforcement actions in California that led to more than 200 arrests and significant drug seizures in a raid on illegal gambling facilities.
The operations were carried out under Operation Coast to Coast, a multiagency initiative intensified in December with additional federal resources deployed in Southern California. They were part of a sweeping crackdown on organized crime, according to an announcement from the FBI.
Related: Florida Turns Up Crack Down on Illegal Gambling OperationsA component of the operation involved targeting illegal gambling establishments known as casitas. Investigators had identified these locations as fronts used by local gangs to facilitate drug distribution.
The casitas were also linked to prostitution activity and firearms trafficking. More than 130 individuals were detained during enforcement actions at casitas throughout the Los Angeles area, with additional sites searched in Montclair and San Bernardino as part of the broader sweep.
The effort forms part of the Homeland Security Task Force framework established following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The stated objective of the initiative is to disrupt and dismantle criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and networks involved in human smuggling and trafficking operating both domestically and internationally.
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LA a Major Source of Illegal Activity
The LA region served as a focal point due to its role as a logistical hub for illicit trafficking. In the LA area alone, authorities filed 92 criminal complaints after arresting 223 individuals. Eight search warrants were executed during the operation, including one conducted in Mexico.
Law enforcement officials seized more than 102 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 470 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 1.5 kilograms of cocaine. In addition to the narcotics, agents recovered 29 firearms and roughly $3,000 in cash.
Authorities also focused on street gang activity in Long Beach. Here, alleged members of Florencia-13, Tortilla Flags, and East Side Longos were arrested on charges related to narcotics trafficking and weapons violations.
The investigation extended beyond drug offenses, with at least one arrest connected to the distribution of child sexual abuse material, underscoring the breadth of criminal conduct uncovered during the operation.
The FBI credited the scale and effectiveness of Operation Coast to Coast to close collaboration with local partners. Among the major participants were the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Federal officials described the joint operations as a sustained effort to alleviate the impact of organized crime on local communities while disrupting supply chains fueling violence and addiction.
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