Major Bust Nets 13 Suspects in Armenian Organized Crime Ring

A major crackdown on an Armenian organized crime ring has resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects in Southern California and Florida. The suspects face a range of serious charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping, and the theft of more than $80 million in goods from online retailers. The operation, conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of local police departments, involved the execution of search warrants at multiple locations. "This transnational criminal organization operated with the structure and brutality of an international cartel," said Dwayne Angebrandt, Acting Deputy Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Los Angeles. Neighbors reported increased activity at one of the raided locations in Sun Valley over the past five years. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are still searching for one additional suspect. The arrests highlight the significant threat posed by transnational organized crime and the determination of law enforcement to combat it.