Latest news with #LosZetas
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood
LAKEWOOD — A Mexican national, who is also an active Cartel del Noreste gang member, was taken into custody Monday in the township, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Jose Heladio Bonilla-Sanchez, who ICE described as a 'criminal alien,' had been deported from the United States three previous times. The agency said the individual is in ICE custody 'pending removal and federal prosecution for illegal reentry.' Details about the arrest were not immediately available. The Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, formerly known as Los Zetas, is one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Cartel del Noreste exerts significant influence over the U.S.-Mexican border, especially near the crossing between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Lardeo, Texas, according to the Treasury Department. Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood NJ
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: White House marks 'blockbuster' week for Trump's immigration agenda
EXCLUSIVE: Despite stunning news about the return of illegal alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Friday afternoon, the White House is celebrating a "blockbuster" week for President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. "It's a bad day to be an illegal alien and a great day to be an American," a spokesperson said. On the heels of "Operation Patriot," the largest ICE operation ever, which saw the arrest of nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in the deep blue state of Massachusetts, ICE arrests surged this week, with agents making over 2,000 arrests Tuesday and nearly 2,500 Wednesday. Trump's Border Wall Expansion Moves Forward In Several Critical Areas: 'Crisis Is Not Yet Over' Overall, ICE has arrested over 100,000 illegal immigrants since Trump took office. Over the weekend, ICE officials and local authorities in South Carolina raided a "cartel after-party" where 80 illegal aliens were arrested, including two alleged "high-level cartel members" of the Mexican cartel Los Zetas and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to The Post and Courier. Read On The Fox News App According to the outlet, one of the individuals arrested, a Honduran national, has been named in an international murder case. The New York Times also reported that deportation flights rose to the highest level yet under the Trump administration. This comes as ICE announced this week that it had deported 142 criminal aliens to Mexico from the Houston area, including child predators, gang members, human traffickers and one individual convicted of making terroristic threats. On Monday, ICE announced that, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it had made a "game-changing" seizure of 50,000 kilograms of meth ingredients destined for the Sinaloa Cartel. Trump Administration Drops Hammer On 'Narco Sub' Cocaine Ring As Cartels Threaten Us Borders Chad Plantz, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston, said the collaboration provides authorities "with a game-changing method to stay one step ahead of the cartels by disrupting the flow of chemicals that they depend on to produce illicit narcotics." A source familiar with the operations shared with Fox News Digital a listing of some of the arrests made by ICE this week. Kilmar Abrego Garcia Indicted On Human Trafficking Charges, Ordered To Appear Before Judge In Nashville These arrests included a Salvadoran national arrested in Los Angeles for sodomy of a child, a Mexican national arrested in Chicago for criminal sexual assault of a child, a Mexican national arrested in Houston for indecent sexual contact with a child, a Honduran national arrested in El Paso for possession of child pornography and a Laotian national arrested for murder and attempted murder. San Diego Authorities Arrest 3 Noncitizens Allegedly Involved In Transporting More Than $5M Worth Of Meth White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called this week "a blockbuster week for President Trump's immigration agenda." "President Trump is doing exactly what he promised the American people — securing the Southern border and deporting illegal aliens," said Jackson. "The President is cracking down on cartels, cutting the flow of fentanyl coming across our border by over half in the last year," she added. "Under President Trump's America First leadership, it's a bad day to be an illegal alien and a great day to be an American."Original article source: EXCLUSIVE: White House marks 'blockbuster' week for Trump's immigration agenda
Fox News
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
EXCLUSIVE: White House marks 'blockbuster' week for Trump's immigration agenda
EXCLUSIVE: Despite stunning news about the return of illegal alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Friday afternoon, the White House is celebrating a "blockbuster" week for President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. "It's a bad day to be an illegal alien and a great day to be an American," a spokesperson said. On the heels of "Operation Patriot," the largest ICE operation ever, which saw the arrest of nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in the deep blue state of Massachusetts, ICE arrests surged this week, with agents making over 2,000 arrests Tuesday and nearly 2,500 Wednesday. Overall, ICE has arrested over 100,000 illegal immigrants since Trump took office. Over the weekend, ICE officials and local authorities in South Carolina raided a "cartel after-party" where 80 illegal aliens were arrested, including two alleged "high-level cartel members" of the Mexican cartel Los Zetas and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to The Post and Courier. According to the outlet, one of the individuals arrested, a Honduran national, has been named in an international murder case. The New York Times also reported that deportation flights rose to the highest level yet under the Trump administration. This comes as ICE announced this week that it had deported 142 criminal aliens to Mexico from the Houston area, including child predators, gang members, human traffickers and one individual convicted of making terroristic threats. On Monday, ICE announced that, working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it had made a "game-changing" seizure of 50,000 kilograms of meth ingredients destined for the Sinaloa Cartel. Chad Plantz, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston, said the collaboration provides authorities "with a game-changing method to stay one step ahead of the cartels by disrupting the flow of chemicals that they depend on to produce illicit narcotics." A source familiar with the operations shared with Fox News Digital a listing of some of the arrests made by ICE this week. These arrests included a Salvadoran national arrested in Los Angeles for sodomy of a child, a Mexican national arrested in Chicago for criminal sexual assault of a child, a Mexican national arrested in Houston for indecent sexual contact with a child, a Honduran national arrested in El Paso for possession of child pornography and a Laotian national arrested for murder and attempted murder. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called this week "a blockbuster week for President Trump's immigration agenda." "President Trump is doing exactly what he promised the American people — securing the Southern border and deporting illegal aliens," said Jackson. "The President is cracking down on cartels, cutting the flow of fentanyl coming across our border by over half in the last year," she added. "Under President Trump's America First leadership, it's a bad day to be an illegal alien and a great day to be an American."
Int'l Business Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Dozens Arrested in South Carolina Nightclub Raid Tied to Alleged Los Zetas Cartel Member
A nightclub allegedly operated by a member of the Los Zetas cartel was raided over the weekend in Summerville, South Carolina, resulting in nearly 80 arrests. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detailed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted an operation after receiving a tip about "The Alamo," an illegal underground nightclub located roughly 25 miles northwest of Charleston. Authorities said the club was a hub for weapons, narcotics, and human trafficking. The raid, dubbed "Operation Last Stand," took place around 3 a.m. on June 1 and involved approximately 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers. Officials said 66 of those arrested were in the United States illegally, and five had outstanding criminal warrants. Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie and Cardell Morant, special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations, held a press conference following the raid. Ritchie stated that two of those arrested were believed to be "high-level cartel members" with ties to both the Los Zetas cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang. Authorities expect the number of individuals tied to gangs to increase as the investigation continues. Officials did not release the identities of the alleged cartel members or disclose the extent of their involvement in criminal operations. 🚨A Mexican illegal alien and member of a violent cartel was arrested by @ICEgov agents in Charleston. This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting communities from transnational criminal threats. — HSI Charlotte (@HSI_Charlotte) June 2, 2025 Among those arrested was Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a Honduran national living in the country illegally. He was subject to an active Interpol Red Notice for homicide in his home country, officials said. During the operation authorities seized firearms, cocaine and an "unknown controlled substance" in addition to a large quantity of "bulk currency," ABC News 4 reported. Four vehicles were also seized for drug-related offenses and are awaiting search warrants. Additionally, ten youths between the ages of 13 and 21 were removed from the club and returned to their parents. Authorities believe some of them may be victims of human trafficking and were handed over to state social services for protection and care Law enforcement officials said the nightclub's owner and primary operator was identified as Benjamin Reyna-Flores. He was arrested and booked into the Charleston County jail. Reyna-Flores faces multiple charges, including unlawful storage and transportation of alcoholic liquors, illegal sale and manufacturing of alcohol, and sales to an unlicensed person. His bond was set at $4,715. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. "The successful operation that took place in the Charleston area resulted in more than 70 arrests of illegal aliens — including an international murder suspect — and the dismantling of a nightclub run by a suspected cartel member where drug, weapon, and human trafficking were taking place," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, fugitives and lawbreakers are on notice: Leave now, or ICE will find you and deport you." Originally published on Latin Times
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
ICE crashes 'cartel-run' nightclub in South Carolina and arrests 72
The Department of Homeland Security crashed a 'cartel party' in South Carolina, arresting 72 illegal migrants, including one high-profile suspect. Officials swarmed The Alamo, an illegal underground nightclub near Charleston, early Sunday morning after a source tipped them off, the federal agency said in a statement. The Kristi Noem-led department said the nightclub was run by a suspected member of the Los Zetas Cartel, formerly known as the Cártel del Noreste, which was deemed a terrorist organization by the Trump Administration in February 2025. At least one high-profile arrest was made during the raid, with authorities saying they captured Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a Honduran fugitive who is wanted for homicide in his native country and has a 'red notice' issued for him from the international police organization Interpol . The agency said 71 others were also arrested, including individuals with 'serious prior offenses.' Of those arrested, 66 were in the US illegally and five had criminal warrants, Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant told ABC News 4 . According to the federal agency, six juveniles were also recovered and turned over to social services. Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie told ABC News 4 that the youngest was 13 and one of the juveniles had been reported missing. Some of the minors are also suspected of being victims of human trafficking, he said. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the raid not only dismantled the illegal nightclub, but also uncovered drugs, weapons, and human trafficking that was taking place. 'Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, fugitives and lawbreakers are on notice: Leave now or ICE will find you and deport you,' she said in a statement. More than 200 people were at the club on Sunday night. 'Put your hands up, put your [expletive] hands up,' an agent can be heard yelling in a video posted to social media. Armed officers were seen moving through the nightclub as partygoers frightfully put their hands up. 'The leftover adrenaline hasn't let me sleep,' Destiny Tinoco, who posted the videos, wrote on Facebook. 'The rush of fear, panic, anxiety, and terror was palpable throughout. The huge mob of people, including myself and some friends, holding hands, running for our lives and having no idea of what was happening or what was going to happen to us was horrible.' Tinoco claimed Homeland Security agents were complaining their computers were backlogged and immigration status couldn't be checked properly. 'Citizenship statuses not being able to be verified resulting in people being arrested straight away. With no verification of status,' she claimed. 'I was immediately at a loss for words. The lack of patience and empathy left me speechless.' Tinoco was able to leave the nightclub with her friends unharmed, and she claimed she - and many others - had no idea the establishment was illegal. Another witness, David Herrera, told Live 5 News that partygoers were held for up to two hours. 'I saw dancing, I saw people smiling, having a good time. And then boom. It all went to chaos,' he told the outlet. 'People were coming up to them, saying: "I have kids at home."' Herrera also felt the tension while ICE and other agencies gathered information from attendees. 'No one was leaving until they got exactly what they wanted, which was as much information on anyone as possible. I almost felt like I had to prove I wasn't committing a crime and that I wasn't illegal to be let out,' he said. has reached out to Tinoco and Herrera for comment. The Alamo's owner, Benjamin Reyna-Flores, a suspect gang member, was also arrested and is currently in the custody of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and ICE, ABC News 4 reported. He now faces state and federal charges. Authorities began investigating The Alamo back in November after the establishment received noise complaints and had 'other illegal activity' happening in the parking lot, Ritchie said. Agents rolled up to the party with 116 arrest warrants and the majority of them were served. Governor Henry McMaster criticized the open borders and said the state will continue to investigate in order to 'rid South Carolina of these criminals.'
