105 People Facing Federal Organized Crime Charges In Puerto Rico

In this file photo, an alleged drug dealer is escorted by DEA agents as he is arrested at a public housing project in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, in 2010.

Andres Leighton / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Department of Justice officials on Wednesday announced that 105 people in Puerto Rico have been charged with federal organized crime charges for their alleged involvement in a powerful and deadly drug gang.

According to a nine-count indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, those charged were members of the "La Rompe ONU" organization, which sold drugs including crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in public housing across the U.S. territory.

"Moreover, members of the organization used violence and intimidation, including murder, to increase the power, territory and profits of La Rompe ONU," the DOJ said in a news release.

According to the indictment, the ONU -- which stands for Organizacion de Narcotraficantes Unidos, or the Organization of United Drug-traffickers -- was formed around 2004 when previously warring drug gangs formed an alliance "that would not bring about the attention of local and federal authorities, thus ensuring increased profits from drug sales for all and reducing the risk of federal charges."

'ONU' is the same acronym used in Spanish to refer to the United Nations.

However, the alliance is said to have splintered around 2007 when a breakaway group, known as La Rompe ONU, sought to battle for control of the drug network.

Officials alleged that between February 2011 and August 2012 La Rompe ONU was responsible for the murders of 12 people -- nine of whom were killed in three separate drive-by shooting "massacres."

Of those arrested, officials alleged 35 were responsible for overseeing the gang's drug and criminal activities, 25 acted as "enforcers," 25 as drug sellers, 11 worked as drug runners, eight as drug suppliers, and one person processed drugs.

"‘La Rompe ONU’ will no longer terrorize law abiding citizens in Puerto Rico," U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez said.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates or follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

SOURCE: BuzzFeed