New Mexico: FBI Raids Homes of Bandidos Biker Gang Members

After over two months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, the FBI has launched a series of raids against members of a notorious biker gang known as Bandidos in New Mexico.

There have been fears that the biker gang would be launching a retaliatory attack after a Memorial Day shootout in Red River, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The raids were launched early on Thursday morning across towns in New Mexico, with both the FBI and New Mexico State Police SWAT working together for these raids.

Federal and New Mexico authorities searched the homes of 25 Bandidos members who were s identified as having made "imminent threats" to kill or hurt rival biker gang members after that deadly shootout last May.

Over 150 firearms were seized as evidence during the early morning raids, with three men being arrested on state charges as authorities continued their investigation into the biker gang's possible crimes, including racketeering.

The state's top law enforcement officials then sent a warning to the other Bandido bikers whose properties were not raided. "The motorcycle is a symbol of freedom, of individualism, and the open road," said US Attorney for New Mexico Alexander Uballez in a statement. "But today, a selfish few are trying to tell us who gets to enjoy our roads, what clothes they are required to wear, and with whom they can ride. The people of New Mexico have no more patience for violent bullies. Working together, the law enforcement agencies of New Mexico want to return the open road to the public who owns it."

The FBI is also investigating whether the firearms they seized have also been used in several unsolved homicides all over New Mexico.

Bandidos Biker Gang Is Having a Conflict With a Smaller Local Biker Gang

According to the Associated Press, during that Red River shootout, the Bandidos were fighting against a much smaller motorcycle club known as the Water Dogs. The conflict may have started when the leader of the New Mexico-based Water Dogs biker gang was seen standing with at least one member of the Mongol Motorcycle Club in a photograph.

It was reported that the Mongols were trying to increase their presence in New Mexico, and the Bandidos treated this as hostility as they considered the state part of their territory.

Those searched by the FBI were described as "the most aggressive proponents of violent conflict." FBI Special Agent Bryan Acee stated in a press conference that the search warrants would "mitigate the current threat and result in the seizure of valuable evidence."

FBI Considers Biker Gangs a 'Small Part' of New Mexico Crime

There has been a sharp increase in violence between the Mongols and Bandidos as of late, as the conflict rages across a few states, including New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Despite this, however, biker gang violence is treated as only a small part of the crime happening in the state.

According to KRQUE, the FBI treated the Red River incident as an isolated case, and not all gang members are criminals. Despite the raid, the FBI has said it "believes the majority of the members in these gangs have day jobs and just want to be part of a club and aren't personally committing crimes."

The FBI added that it is working with local police to ensure that local bike rallies stay peaceful.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Red River biker shooting sparks massive raid of Bandidos' homes - KRQUE