Federal law enforcement executed one of the most sweeping anti-gang crackdowns in Wisconsin history on Wednesday, arresting 22 suspects in a bold early-morning raid targeting violent, cartel-linked criminal networks. The multi-agency effort, known as “Operation Chalkline,” was led by the FBI’s Milwaukee office and backed by 14 SWAT teams and a coalition of local, state, and federal partners.
The scale of the takedown was staggering. Twenty-four federal search warrants were executed across Milwaukee and Racine, resulting in the seizure of:
🚨🚨 One of our most significant violent gang takedowns to date here with Operation Chalkline – 22 arrests and major seizures including:
– More than 4 Kilograms of Cocaine
– 260 Grams of Fentanyl
– 1.5 Pounds of Methamphetamines
– 6 pounds of marijuana
– 23 FirearmsOutstanding… https://t.co/ke8cCOdPZP
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 22, 2025
According to a statement released by FBI Milwaukee, the operation directly disrupted gang activity with international cartel ties, though officials did not name the cartel involved. The coordination and firepower required for the mission highlight the scope of the threat — and the seriousness with which federal authorities are approaching the crisis of cartel infiltration and urban gang violence.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the effort on social media, calling it “one of our most significant violent gang takedowns to date.” Patel commended the agents and task force officers involved, describing their work as “outstanding” and emblematic of the FBI’s renewed focus on violent crime suppression at the community level.
The operation was driven by intelligence gathered by Mount Pleasant Police Department Task Force Officers, working in close coordination with members of the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force — a unit that includes officers from Caledonia, Racine, and the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
This isn’t the first coordinated effort in recent weeks. Back in September, FBI Milwaukee worked with ICE in Manitowoc County to arrest 21 illegal aliens, nine of whom were allegedly involved in the trafficking or sexual exploitation of underage American girls. That operation, though smaller in scale, underscores the bureau’s widening net as it battles cartel-aligned threats both foreign and domestic.
Today, FBI Milwaukee and @ICEgov led a joint operation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, DEA, CBP, and IRS-CI in arresting 21 subjects in Manitowoc County. All the subjects are in the country illegally. Nine of the subjects were targeted for their suspected involvement in… pic.twitter.com/t4i9hYateR
— FBI Milwaukee (@FBIMilwaukee) September 25, 2025
