{
  "id": 3778979,
  "title": "Justice Department charges more than 80 people in Puerto Rico gang takedown",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/justice-department-charges-more-than-80-people-in-puerto-rico-gang-3778979",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T16:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/los-baja-deo-gang-drug-charges-indictment-02775045f52f2454495dee3b16ace6ca"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. Justice Department charges 81 individuals in massive crackdown on violent Puerto Rican gang, Attorney General Todd Blanche reveals during island visit. The gang, called \"Los Baja Deo,\" facilitated the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine and other illegal narcotics from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico's west coast city, raking in nearly $50 million in illicit proceeds. Charged with a litany of violent crimes including shootings, killings, kidnappings, and assaults, the gang is also held responsible for distributing at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics. Attorney General Blanche's presence in Puerto Rico underscores the Trump administration's focus on combating cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations across the U.S. Blanche's visit to San Juan, the island's capital, emphasizes the administration's commitment to ending the presence of such criminal entities. Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, the acting U.S. attorney for Puerto Rico, announced that the 81 gang members will now face justice and any others attempting to take their place. Families in Mayagüez can now enjoy their community without fearing harm from gang violence.",
  "summary": "SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has charged more than 80 people in the takedown of a violent Puerto Rican gang, Attorney General Todd Blanche…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Justice Department charges more than 80 people in Puerto Rico gang takedown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/justice-department-charges-more-than-80-people-in-puerto-rico-gang",
        "published": "2026-08-27T16:38:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Justice Department charges more than 80 people in Puerto Rico gang takedown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/justice-department-charges-more-than-80-people-in-puerto-rico-gang-3798495",
        "published": "2026-08-27T18:51:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "WATCH: More than 80 people charged in federal takedown of Puerto Rico gang",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/watch-more-than-80-people-charged-in-federal-takedown-of-puerto-rico",
        "published": "2026-08-27T19:54:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}