Dozens of neo-Nazi gang members are facing criminal charges in the US

Dozens of members of the “Peckerwoods,” a gang of white supremacists, are facing criminal charges in California, mainly for drug trafficking, in what US authorities describe as a “critical blow” against the neo-Nazi organization.

The US Department of Justice announced that coordinated police raids in the San Fernando Valley, near Los Angeles, resulted in the seizure of large quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, and illegal weapons.

Federal Prosecutor Martin Estrada said, “The Peckerwoods’ violent racist ideology and widespread criminal activity posed a serious threat to local citizens,” characterizing the gang as a “destructive force.”

Authorities have filed charges against 68 defendants, including charges of extortion, drug trafficking, fraud and firearms violations.

U.S. officials say the Peckerwoods operate under the command of the Aryan Brotherhood, a larger white supremacist group with a strong presence in prisons.

The Brotherhood has reportedly formed an alliance with the Mexican Mafia, another prison gang that controls many Latin American criminal groups in California.

Peckerwoods gang members often display Nazi symbols, including swastikas, the number 88 – a coded reference to “Heil Hitler” – and German flags from World War II, according to authorities.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his satisfaction with the operation, stating in an announcement: “The Department of Justice has delivered a critical blow to the Peckerwoods gang in the San Fernando Valley.”

(information from amna.gr)