SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On Feb. 15, the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan arrested Christopher Maldonado-Lopez and Christian Maldonado-Lopez, the final remaining fugitives from Operation Youngblood, in Newark, New Jersey.
In September 2023, Operation Youngblood dismantled the Hasta Los Marcian criminal organization in Manati.
“With these two arrests, we culminate our Operation Youngblood, which brought to justice the 42 defendants of this criminal organization. We said we were going to go after them, and we delivered thanks to the tireless work of our special agents, the teamwork of the local and municipal components, and the U.S. Marshals office,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos. “The message is clear: Drug traffickers who attempt to establish their criminal organizations on our island must know that we will not stop until they face justice for their actions. No one is above the law.”
“The U.S. Marshals have not rested on the trail of these two individuals who pretend to be above the law. Teamwork has results,” said U.S. Marshal of the District of San Juan Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra. “With these two arrests, we have concluded with the fugitives of this violent organization that for so many years stole the peace from the community of Manati.”