The FBI is moving aggressively against violent criminal gangs operating across the country, with Director Kash Patel announcing a nationwide enforcement operation targeting the Latin Kings.
Patel said Friday that “Operation Broken Crown,” a coordinated, three-month effort involving more than a dozen FBI field offices, delivered major results against the gang’s criminal network. The operation led to nearly 50 arrests, the seizure of close to $200,000 in illicit funds, and the confiscation of more than 10 kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and other narcotics.
“We’re breaking the violent gang network in America,” Patel wrote in a statement posted on X. He emphasized that the effort builds on a sharp increase in gang enforcement activity, noting that during 2025 the FBI recorded a 210% increase in gang takedowns targeting MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. “Weeks in to 2026 and we’re not stopping,” Patel added, signaling continued pressure on organized criminal groups.
The announcement comes amid heightened concern over gang violence and threats against law enforcement. Patel’s reference to gang members “publicly threatening law enforcement officers” relates to an October incident in which a Latin Kings member allegedly placed a hit on Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities have pointed to that case as an example of the dangers posed by entrenched gang activity.
Federal prosecutors have also highlighted other recent cases tied to the Latin Kings. Earlier this month, federal authorities arrested another alleged member of the gang in Minneapolis. According to the Justice Department, the suspect was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft of government property after allegedly breaking into an FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle. Officials say the incident underscores the boldness of some gang members and the risks faced by law enforcement officers on the ground.
The drugs seized during Operation Broken Crown included fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that has been linked to the majority of overdose deaths in the United States. Federal officials say the operation reflects the administration’s two-pronged strategy for addressing the ongoing drug crisis: aggressive enforcement against traffickers combined with expanded treatment options for those struggling with addiction.
That approach was reinforced Thursday when Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Great American Recovery Initiative. The new initiative is designed to coordinate federal addiction recovery efforts and direct agency grant funding toward treatment programs aimed at helping Americans overcome substance abuse.
Taken together, the arrests, seizures, and policy actions mark a renewed push by federal authorities to confront violent gangs and drug trafficking head-on. FBI officials say Operation Broken Crown demonstrates what sustained coordination among federal field offices can achieve, while also sending a message that gangs threatening communities and law enforcement will face swift consequences.
As Patel made clear in his remarks, the crackdown on the Latin Kings is not an isolated effort but part of a broader campaign to dismantle violent gang networks operating inside the United States.
