A years-long federal investigation into an alleged sophisticated drug trafficking organization was publicly revealed following a Puerto Rico Police arrest in Morovis. According to a criminal complaint filed in Federal Court in San Juan, the FBI began investigating in 2022 the activities of a 'violent gang' allegedly trafficking drugs, based in the Ojo de Agua sector of Vega Baja. An FBI agent's affidavit states the gang has a 'de facto corporate management' overseeing branches that operate like a 'franchise,' including one at the Tomas Sorrolla public housing project in Morovis.
On September 18, Police from the Arecibo region's Drug Division executed a search warrant at an apartment in building seven of that complex, arresting John Jeffrey Morales after finding drugs and weapons in a bag between the bed and a nightstand. At least one of two seized firearms — a Glock model 22 .40-caliber and a Taurus model G3 9mm — had been illegally modified to fire automatically. Police also seized five magazines, 85 .40-caliber rounds, 15 9mm rounds, eight .22-caliber rounds, 1,302 crack capsules, 181 crack bags, 25 cocaine bags, 60 heroin decks, 20 pills, and $1,360 in cash.
Police said Morales is a person of interest to Arecibo's Homicide Division, without elaborating. Morales told FBI agents he lived alone, owned both guns, and sold the drugs at a nearby point.