In a significant crackdown on violent crime, the FBI’s Boston Division has made 404 arrests in just three months as part of a national initiative known as ‘Operation Summer Heat.’
According to a recent media release by the bureau, this nationwide operation resulted in a staggering total of 8,629 arrests across the country, with more than 6,500 individuals falling under the FBI’s Violent Crime and Gang program.
In the release, it was highlighted that the Boston office ranked third among all FBI field offices in terms of total arrests.
Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, remarked, “Operation Summer Heat is a snapshot of what our agents, task force officers, and analysts do daily to target, apprehend, and bring to justice the most dangerous, violent criminals wreaking havoc in our communities.”
“This record-setting operation removed gang members, drug traffickers, child predators, and bank robbers from our streets,” Docks said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with local law enforcement.
He assured the public that even though summer has ended, the FBI’s efforts to combat crime will continue unabated.
In addition to the notable number of arrests, FBI Boston reported 129 seizures of deadly drugs, recovery of 38 weapons, and identification or location of 27 children during the operation.
Among the specific achievements, the FBI Boston’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, supported by the DEA’s New England Field Office, Massachusetts State Police, and local police departments, specifically targeted gangs in Holyoke, an area that has seen recent violence.
This effort resulted in 52 arrests and the seizure of illegal firearms and narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine.
Furthermore, the Southern Maine Gang Task Force, in collaboration with its partners, executed 37 searches that yielded 35 arrests and the seizure of substantial quantities of narcotics and firearms, including 4.5 kilos of cocaine and several hundred grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
In a notable operation involving the FBI Boston, DEA New England, United States Postal Inspection Service, and state police, two Massachusetts men were arrested, and approximately 73 kilos of cocaine, valued at over $1 million, were seized.
Additionally, an FBI Major Offender Task Force in New Hampshire led to the indictment of 12 individuals on charges related to conspiracy to distribute various drugs, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Five more individuals were also arrested for their alleged participation in a robbery conspiracy targeting a business in Londonderry.
Moreover, the Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force, along with its partners, arrested 17 gang members, fugitives, and drug traffickers.
In one operation, seven individuals were apprehended on drug trafficking and firearms charges, leading to substantial seizures of fentanyl pills, powder, cocaine, and a collection of firearms, which included an AR-15 and several handguns along with a Glock switch.
The comprehensive outcomes of ‘Operation Summer Heat’ highlight the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts in combating crime and ensuring community safety in the Boston region and beyond.
image source from：patch
