By David Amoruso for Gangsters Inc.

The life of an outlaw is one lived outside the rule of law. Those part of the one percenter biker world thrive on it. Unfortunately for them the rule of law isn’t something they can ignore. Whenever their actions cross that boundary, the law comes knocking. As it did last week in a coordinated, multiagency enforcement operation across New Mexico targeting alleged members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.

Over the past four years, law enforcement officials in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma have observed a sharp increase in violence between the Bandidos and the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Most recently, in May 2023, in Red River, NM, several Bandidos members from New Mexico and Texas confronted a group of Water Dogs MC members.

The confrontation was the continuation of months of harassment by the Bandidos concerning whether the Water Dogs MC had aligned itself with the Bandidos or Mongols. In Red River, Bandidos members surrounded the Water Dogs MC members, and three Bandidos members attacked a Water Dogs member. The fight escalated and two Bandidos members and one Water Dogs member were shot and killed. Five bystanders were wounded in the incident.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force

Following the Red River shooting, New Mexico State Police contacted the FBI and requested assistance conducting a statewide investigation of the Bandidos. Subsequently, in June 2023, the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force (OMGTF) was created, comprised of investigators and analysts from the FBI, NMSP, New Mexico Corrections Department, Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Ruidoso Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Otero County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The OMGTF set its sights on the Bandidos, given the organization’s continued participation in murders, shootings, extortion, and other violent acts.  It focused on 25 members within the New Mexico chapters who appeared to be the most criminally active and loudest voices advocating for continued violence.

Guns & drugs

The search warrant was executed on premises in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Belen, Tome, Grants, San Rafael, Gallup, Farmington, Hobbs, Alamogordo, Ruidoso, Capitan and Arabela. During the subsequent searches, law enforcement officers seized 151 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, numerous ballistics vests, and fentanyl, meth and cocaine. A stolen police radio was also recovered.

As a result of the operation, two individuals were arrested on state charges. They are Kenneth Martinez and Henry Mascarenas.  Charges are also pending against Ed Sanchez Solis.

“The motorcycle is a symbol of freedom, of individualism, and the open road,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “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 return the open road to the public who owns it.”