More than 220 people were arrested over the past month on suspicion of a range of state and federal criminal offenses, including crimes against children, homicide, illegal weapon possession, narcotics, and other related offenses, the FBI announced Monday.
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"This month's surge in resources and partnerships is a snapshot in time of the work our task forces do on a regular basis -- including our Safe Streets Task Forces, the Homeland Security Task Force and our Fugitive Task Force -- but illustrates for the public the violent crime threat facing our communities," Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "Fighting violent crime, whether it's on the streets, online or the Darkweb, requires diligence, vigilance and solid partnerships among local and federal law enforcement, all of which we have in abundance in Southern California."
According to the FBI, agents from the Los Angeles Field Office worked with federal, state and local agencies on joint enforcement operations in December, significantly disrupting gang and drug trafficking activity in and around the Los Angeles region.
The operations led to the filing of 92 criminal complaints, the service of eight search warrants, 223 arrests, and the seizure of 102.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 470.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, about $3,000 in cash, and multiple firearms.
FBI officials also said the surge of operations led to the arrest of multiple suspects wanted in connection with gang-related homicides.
"The FBI and its partners continued their concerted efforts to improve the safety in MacArthur Park through the arrests of more than ten alleged gang members who were distributing narcotics around the park," according to the agency.
Among the agencies taking part in the Operation Coast to Coast initiative were the Los Angeles Police Department; the Los Angeles County Fire Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Riverside County Sheriff's Department; the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Homeland Security Investigations.
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