The feds just busted members of a notorious transnational gang accused of ‘unleashing terror’ in a commercial corridor in Queens, New York.
The area represented by Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Grace Meng has been under siege by the 18th Street gang, which was formed by Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1960s, Fox News reported. The gang has since spread across the United States as well as in Central America.
Seven of the eight members of the 18th Street gang that were nabbed by the feds are in the U.S. illegally. All of them are accused of “unleashing terror onto Queens communities through brutal assaults, extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.
The area in Queens had been dubbed a “Red Light district” by locals, where the gang members have been accused of stabbings, beatings, and allegedly had extorted local businesses, distributed fake passports, and counterfeit money.
The 18th Street gang members had infiltrated the corridor and brutally marked its “territory” with insignia after authorities had successfully dismantled Tren de Aragua and other gangs in the area.
“Those arrested… acted and behaved with callous and cruel disregard for those around them,” FBI Assistant Director of the NY Field Office, Christopher Raia said of the takedown operation, according to Fox. “Our actions today represent yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to crushing the violent transnational gangs plaguing our communities.” None of the suspects are accused of being involved in prostitution.
Transnational gangs pose a dangerous problem for Americans, but some on the left don’t see it that way. In June, Cynthia Gonzalez, vice mayor of Cudahy in southeast L.A., called upon the 18th Street gang to help with violent protests against ICE agents.
EXCLUSIVE: Per federal sources, the vice mayor of Cudahy, a city in southeast LA County, is under FBI investigation after she allegedly posted a video to social media in which she appears to call for 18th Street & Florencia 13 gang members in LA to defend their territory from… pic.twitter.com/afJfxeSCBb
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 24, 2025
Meanwhile, AOC owes the feds a big “Thank you.”
Your welcome @AOC the local FBI and DEA along with the police that you like to ask defunded did your job on keeping your district safe. Maybe instead of running your mouth you can do your job that people are paying you to do.
Eight members of the ruthless 18th Street… pic.twitter.com/wvT8VMNTtT
— Kat❤️ (@IrishKat00) July 10, 2025
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