Skip to Content
News

Headlines: Investigation Into Wilmington’s Westside Wilmas Gang and the Mexican Mafia Lead to Multiple Arrests

In addition to the arrests, authorities allegedly seized 23 firearms, 57.7 pounds of methamphetamine, about 23,000 fentanyl pills, 5.2 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 2.2 pounds of cocaine.

9:47 AM PDT on May 18, 2023

photo: Hoodlumxsociety/Instagram

Welcome to L.A. TACO’s daily news briefs, where we bring our loyal members, readers, and supporters the latest headlines about Los Angeles politics and culture. Stay informed and look closely.

—Free rides on L.A. metro buses, trains, and bikes today, all day! Metrolink is free to cyclists all week. [Metro Los Angeles]

Central-Alameda: LAPD released a bizarre video showing celebrities like Pete Davidson, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal, Shia LaBeouf and Benicio Del Toro praising the LAPD's Newton Division following a screening of End of Watch. [LAPD Newton]

Elysian Park: The Los Angeles chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a self-described group of "leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns,” who were going to be honored with the Dodgers' Community Hero Award, have been removed from the lineup of this year's Los Angles Dodgers’ 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night in June, due to complaints from Catholics over the imagery they use, including Senator Marco Rubio. [KTLA]

Wilmington: The FBI and LAPD announced multiple arrests Wednesday stemming from a joint investigation that targeted the Westside Wilmas gang, and eventually expanded into the Mexican Mafia, which they believe was involved in the sale of illegal firearms and narcotics throughout the Harbor area. In addition to the arrests, authorities allegedly seized 23 firearms, 57.7 pounds of methamphetamine, about 23,000 fentanyl pills, 5.2 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 2.2 pounds of cocaine. [NBC]

—A person opened fire on LAPD police officers Wednesday afternoon on the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles, according to authorities. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred shortly after noon on the southbound side of the freeway. The officers did not return fire, a spokesperson said. [ABC]

Venice: Citing issues with employee safety, scheduling changes, pay, and access to affordable benefits, approximately 30 cannabis delivery drivers at the Stachs-Eaze Lincoln cannabis delivery depot in Venice voted to unionize this week, making it the second Los Angeles Stachs-Eaze depot to unionize since March, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770. About 80 workers at the San Jose depot also voted to unionize. [Patch]

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

The Secret Motorcycle Gang History of Tijuana’s Best Fish Tacos

Open since 1991 and operated by one of the daughters of Tijuana's famous fish taco gem, Las 4 Hermanas. The fish tacos at Alicia's are so delicious that they are charged to a running tab since most people always order more than they thought they wanted. But the portraits of old bikers on the restaurant's walls tell a deeper story.

June 8, 2023

Tasting Your Way Through Tijuana’s Vastly Underrated Local Cheese Scene and Where to Find It to Bring Back Home 

Great cheeses do not only come from Europe. It's time to shine a light on the history and wide variety of cheeses made locally with raw milk in Baja and available in Tijuana, from a jocoque reminiscent of labneh to hard, chipotle-infused Real del Castillo.

June 8, 2023

Spot Check: A Chilled 40 Oz. With Caviar-Topped Tamales at a Fine-Dining Restaurant In Downtown

Also, high school students get $2 Baja tacos all summer at a local chain and a thinly sliced al pastor is making its way down the 110 Freeway.

June 8, 2023

Social Distortion Frontman and Orange County Punk Icon Mike Ness Diagnosed with Stage One Cancer

Notes of support immediately started to pour in from fans, including positive words from L.A.'s Bad Religion and Mexico's División Minuscula.

June 8, 2023

How the Caesar Salad’s Tijuana Origins Became the Border City’s Secret Legacy

The Caesar salad, created in Tijuana by an Italian immigrant during Prohibition in the United States, represents hope that a day’s work could eventually result in your own legacy. As Javier Plascencia, the chef and owner of Caesar's Hotel, tells L.A. TACO, the Caesar salad became an icon of Tijuana "by accident." To this day, the restaurant makes an average of 550 tableside salads every day.

June 7, 2023
See all posts