FBI busts 18th Street Gang in East LA raid

Federal agents have launched a massive takedown of the notorious 18th Street Gang — a major player in the drugs epidemic.

The FBI spearheaded a raid on an apartment block in east Los Angeles early Thursday after a years-long investigation into the “supergang.”

The 18^th Street Gang has been a blight on the city for years. It is a top trafficker of methamphetamine and fentanyl, with a special focus of their operations in MacArthur Park and Skid Row.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena McCabe said Monday’s raids targeted the leadership structure to try to crush the network of drug dealing, extorsion, murder, racketeering and gambling.

From Tuesday through Thursday agents and police arrested more than 11 people and conducted more than ten searches and raids of properties and vehicles, she said.

“The goal is to stop the violence and also stop the trafficking of dangerous drugs like fentanyl,” she added.

Charges brought against members of the 18^th St gang this week include murder, drug dealing, illegal gambling, racketeering, extorsion and more, McCabe said.

The raid, witnessed by the Post, was just one in a series of nearly a dozen warrants served on the gang this week.

More than a dozen federal agents met in a darkened parking lot in Alhambra at 5 am ahead of the action.

They donned tactical vests with FBI logos and performed checks on automatic weapons, shotguns and pistols before forming a caravan of seven unmarked cars that sped to the apartment.

Once there, agents entered the residence within an apartment complex, bringing with them battering rams, weaponry and boxes and plastic bins for collecting evidence.

The agents searched the property, exiting with a bin and paper bag filled with evidence. FBI field agent Eric Turner declined to provide any details on raid.

He just said the action targeted an associate of the 18^th Street Gang. Once taken into custody, members who were arrested were brought to a command post of The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation in Elysian Park.

The FBI and federal prosecutors on Thursday set up four trailers and about ten tents for the purpose of photographing and cataloging those arrested and items taken in the searches and raids.

Agents handled plastic bags of cash and took photos of shackled suspects beneath the shade of the tents, entering information on the evidence and individuals being processed into laptop computers.  

FBI agents said they were pleased with the arrests made. More details would be provided at a press conference later Thursday, they said.

McCabe added: “By taking out the leadership, we’re hoping to make a huge dent. This is one of the most violent gangs we have in Los Angeles and their reach is very far, so taking out their leadership, we’re hoping to solve a lot of those problems.”

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