SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Fifty-three alleged members of the brutal criminal organization known as LAS FARC are facing federal charges following a sweeping indictment unsealed today, June 11, 2025. The charges stem from a years-long investigation into the group’s drug trafficking and firearms operations centered in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announced the indictment, a culmination of efforts by a multi-agency task force.
The indictment details a conspiracy dating back to 2019, alleging LAS FARC distributed a cocktail of deadly drugs – heroin, cocaine base (crack), cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) – within a 1,000-foot radius of the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas, El Mirador de las Casas, and Las Margaritas Public Housing Projects, and surrounding areas. The operation wasn’t just about profit; it was about control. Prosecutors allege LAS FARC used force, threats, violence, and intimidation to dominate the drug trade in their territory.
“We are committed to dismantling criminal organizations that seek to profit through the distribution of dangerous drugs like cocaine and fentanyl across Puerto Rico and beyond,” stated U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “This organization employed violence and intimidation tactics to maintain control in the Santurce area, but with today’s arrest operation we reinforce our commitment to protect our communities and prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law.” The indictment paints a picture of a ruthless organization willing to resort to murder to protect its interests and eliminate rivals.
Rebecca González Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), underscored the coordinated effort. “Our message to these criminals is clear: we are reclaiming our streets from the grip of drug trafficking and the violence it brings,” she said. The investigation, led by HSI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) San Juan Strike Force, involved collaboration from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals, the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and multiple municipal police departments.
Beyond local distribution, the indictment alleges LAS FARC members were trafficking kilogram quantities of cocaine into the continental United States, expanding their criminal reach. Investigators uncovered disturbing tactics used to maintain operational security. Traffic barrels were strategically placed to obstruct law enforcement patrols, and armed escorts, often wielding high-powered rifles, were provided to protect the organization’s leaders. There are also claims that members confronted and threatened law enforcement officers patrolling LAS FARC-controlled areas. The organization didn’t just deal in drugs and guns; leaders allegedly used the illicit proceeds to purchase luxury items, including personalized jewelry, flaunting their ill-gotten gains.
The indictment details how members of LAS FARC acted in various roles to advance the conspiracy. While the names of the 53 defendants have not been immediately released, authorities promise swift prosecution. This takedown represents a significant blow to organized crime in Puerto Rico, but the Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, exposing the dark underbelly of the island’s criminal landscape and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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