Highlights
– 30 Latin King members arrested in Buffalo, New York
– 22 members of a local chapter in New Jersey detained by authorities
– Despite gains by officials, gang will remain a persistent threat to the homeland in the long-term
Over the past several weeks, US authorities have made noteworthy gains against the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, better known as the Latin Kings, to include the arrest of numerous members in various states. However, despite these recent successes, the gang will continue to operate and pose problems for communities throughout the country, as the Latin Kings have long shown their ability to remain a threat in the wake of large-scale detainments.
Officials Arrest 30 Members in Buffalo
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the arrest of 30 members of the Latin Kings on April 29, 2008, following an 18-month investigation by the Safe Streets Task Force. Officials from approximately 20 law enforcement agencies took part in the raids in the Buffalo, New York area, which disrupted a cocaine and heroine drug trafficking ring that netted millions of dollars. Those detained in Buffalo included at least six females, who assist in carrying out criminal activities and are often able to conceal their gang affiliation. Several other individuals connected to the case were also arrested in Florida.
According to statements from federal and local officials, the members were part of a Buffalo-area chapter of the Latin Kings and face narcotics and firearms related offenses. Those detained could face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
The Buffalo police commissioner stated that the recent case is one of several instances in which officials discovered the presence of a “national gang with a hierarchy” operating in the local area. According to reports, the chapter in Buffalo received guidance from the original Latin Kings gang in Chicago, where the group first emerged, and had ties to members in New York City. The Buffalo members operated with a strict organizational structure, similar to other chapters of the gang throughout the US, and are suspected of involvement in a number of brutal acts of violence in the area, to include execution-style murders and revenge attacks on rival gangs.
Detainments in New Jersey
In late April 2008, 22 members of a Latin Kings chapter in New Jersey were arrested on various narcotics charges. Approximately 300 local, state, and federal officials participated in the raids, aimed at disrupting a drug and weapons trafficking network that generated a US$400,000 profit per week. Among those detained was a woman who laundered money for her two sons who were involved in drug trafficking. Authorities seized money, a weapons cache, about 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and the chapter’s manifesto during the operation. Officials believe approximately half of the chapter’s membership was detained as a result of the raids.
Threat Will Remain
As previously reported, the Latin Kings maintain influence in at least 34 US states, as chapters have been established across the country. This organizational strength has allowed the gang to continue to operate after important successes by US officials, such as the October 2002 arrest of 41 members in New Jersey and the May 2007 detainment of 30 members in Massachusetts (Previous Report).
We maintain that while the recent arrests of Latin King members is likely to have a near-term impact on their operations in those areas, other members will move quickly to fill voids and any power vacuums, as seen after earlier detainments. Moreover, as chapters maintain only loose connections to one another, arrests in one area will not likely have a large effect on those in other parts of the country.
Additionally, female members of the Latin Kings will continue to play an important role in the overall organization, providing safe houses for members, obtaining additional funding for operations, and serving as couriers for drug trafficking. We believe females will continue to serve in these roles in the long-term.
Due to its reach, tight command structure, and proven ability to regroup in the wake of arrests and disruptions by authorities, we believe that the Latin Kings will remain a persistent threat to the homeland in the long-term.
