SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — More than two dozen members and associates of the Mexican Mafia were arrested Thursday during an early morning crackdown across Southern California, federal authorities stated. The FBI and local law enforcement executed search and arrest warrants at approximately 30 locations predominantly in Orange County, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A total of 43 individuals, including those already incarcerated, face charges that include murder, kidnapping, extortion, running illegal gambling operations, and drug trafficking, prosecutors reported. Authorities seized 120 pounds (54 kilos) of methamphetamine, over eight pounds (four kilos) of fentanyl, alongside 25 firearms and more than $30,000 in cash. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized at a press conference, “The stuff that we’re taking off the streets is very, very dangerous. These guys have no regard for human life. They’re about making money.” Established in the 1950s in a juvenile jail, the Mexican Mafia has evolved into a significant criminal organization involved in smuggling and drug sales, controlling activities from California's penal system. The indictment further alleges that one leader, while incarcerated, oversaw the Mafia's operations using contraband cellphones, orchestrating kidnappings and assaults, and facilitating drug sales including fentanyl, meth, heroin, and cocaine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the gang operated illegal gambling enterprises in commercial properties and demanded extortionate taxes while employing violence for protection. The gang is also implicated in a murder at a motel in Anaheim under its control. The defendants are scheduled to make initial court appearances in federal court across Los Angeles and Orange counties on Thursday.