MS-13’s tippling point

Cops raid LI bars favored by gang

Cops aren’t just going after MS-13 — they’re targeting the gangbangers’ favorite watering holes.

Police raided four Suffolk County bars early Saturday believed to be havens for members of the violent gang.

It’s the latest salvo in cops’ ongoing war against MS-13 — one day after President Trump traveled to Long Island to demand a crackdown on the “vile criminal cartel.”

Officials raided the establishments — all in Huntington Station — in a coordinated strike at about 1:15 a.m., and found an illegal gambling den in the basement of the Santa Rosa Restau- rant at 118 West Hills Road.

Police arrested five men there, identified as Santiago Garcia, 53; José Garcia-Garcia, 25; Nicomades Biloreo, 51; Carlos Velasquez, 39; and José Guevara Canales, 20. All but Garcia-Garcia are known to live in the area.

Officials are charging the men with promoting gambling and possession of a “gambling device” — although police could not im- mediately describe the devices. Canales also faces weapons-possession charges.

Police slapped bar owner Nelly Garcia, 42, with eight summonses for violating liquor laws and two summonses for fire-code violations, cops said.

Meanwhile, police arrested Celso Lopez Merino, 56, of Huntington for drug possession inside La Perfecta Bar & Restaurant at 137A Broadway. Officials also cited manager Jesus Rivera for liquor and buildings violations.

El Triunfo Taverna Corp., located at 1789 New York Ave., received one fire-code violation.

Agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative arm, Homeland Security Investigations, nabbed Alexander Sanchez, 31, inside the Safiro Bar at 1830 New York Ave., because he has twice re-entered the country after being deported, officials said.

Cops raided the bars “because of MS-13 and other illegal activity,” according to a statement, but officials would not say whether the men arrested are suspected MS-13 members.