Nearly 60 white supremacists charged in connection with alleged Texas drug trafficking ring

Nearly 60 white supremacists have been running a drug trafficking ring out of Texas, complete with kidnappings and illegal weapons possession, the US Department of Justice says.

The department charged 57 members of local white supremacist prison gangs with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit kidnapping or other crimes, the Northern District of Texas division announced on Monday.

“It is clear that these hate-fuelled gangs will do whatever they must do in order to carry on their drug trafficking business,” US Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said at a press conference. “Firearms, body armour, illegal drugs, drug proceeds and unspeakable physical violence are the tools of their trade.”

The sprawling, 55-count indictment covers nearly three years of alleged illegal activity. An investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies uncovered $376,500(£276,558) in cash, more than 190 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 31 firearms, according to the indictment.

At least four of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, after they allegedly held and tortured a man for several days over an $600(£440) drug debt. The men put a gun to the victim’s head, struck him with a large wooden object, and chopped off part of his left index finger with a hatchet, according to the indictment.

Other members were charged with intent to distribute drugs like heroin and U-47700, or possession of a firearm by a felon.

The majority of the defendants are members of various white supremacist prison gangs, including the Aryan Circle, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), and the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, according to the indictment.

A few are members of Tango Blast, a predominately Hispanic prison gang, spurring Ms Nealy Cox to note that the defendants’ “criminal ends overcome their racist views when the need arises”.

The Aryan Circle and ABT have a long history of violence and criminal enterprise in Texas, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Department of Justice previously indicted 34 Aryan Brotherhood members on charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, drug trafficking, and other crimes.

Just last year, the Justice Department wrapped up a years-long prosecution of members of the Aryan Circle, ABT, and other white supremacist gangs. Nearly 90 people were charged with drug trafficking, firearm possession, and other offences. Authorities discovered 956 kilograms of methamphetamine and 88 weapons, according to the Dallas Morning News.

At the time, US Attorney John R Parker announced: “The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and the Aryan Circle have essentially been decimated in North Texas.”