742 Arrested in Major Louisiana Gang Crackdown Tied to Mexican Cartels

Operation Louisiana Shield led to seizure of drugs, firearms, and arrests across the state.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Federal, state, and local law enforcement in Louisiana announced the results of a months-long operation targeting violent gangs and drug dealers, leading to 742 arrests and the seizure of drugs, firearms, and other contraband tied to Mexican cartels.

Why it matters

The large scale of the operation and the volume of drugs and weapons seized points to the organized criminal activity of drug trafficking networks with ties to Mexican cartels, which have been a major source of the deadly fentanyl crisis impacting communities across Louisiana.

The details

Operation Louisiana Shield resulted in the recovery of 176 firearms statewide and large quantities of drugs, including over 15 kilograms of fentanyl, more than 2,000 fentanyl pills, 44 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 20 kilograms of cocaine. In the Alexandria and Shreveport area, 493 people were arrested and 109 firearms were recovered, with 369 of those arrests occurring in Alexandria.

  • The crackdown began in October 2025.
  • The results were announced on February 11, 2026.

The players

Jonathan Tapp

Special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans division.

Liz Murrill

Louisiana Attorney General.

Jeff Landry

Governor of Louisiana.

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What they’re saying

“When we work together, we maximize our impact against violent crime.”

— Jonathan Tapp, Special agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans division (louisianafirstnews.com)

“The volume of the drugs that you're looking at in these numbers and some of these arrests tells you that there's a criminal organization involved. You wouldn't see this kind of volume if there weren't.”

— Liz Murrill, Louisiana Attorney General (louisianafirstnews.com)

What’s next

Officials say this is the third operation led by Gov. Jeff Landry and Murrill aimed at combating violent crime and gang activity in Louisiana, and they promise many more operations to come.

The takeaway

This major crackdown on drug trafficking and gang activity tied to Mexican cartels highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the opioid crisis and organized crime networks that are fueling violence in communities across Louisiana.