The U.S. Attorney's Office is announcing 14 more charges against members of a Minneapolis gang as they continue to crackdown on gang-related, criminal activity across the Twin Cities.
This marks the third time this year officials have announced charges against members of the Minneapolis High's gang, now charged with racketeering conspiracy and fentanyl trafficking.
U.S Attorney Andrew Luger announced the new charges on Wednesday.
"Together, we are dedicated to addressing the violence committed by this gang and to disrupting their ability to sell this deadly drug to our citizens," Luger explained.
Luger says the investigation revealed that a major source of fentanyl in Minnesota comes from out of state.
"These charges illustrate one of the ways that fentanyl is brought to Minneapolis by mail and by plane from suppliers in Arizona," says Luger.
75 high level gang members have been arrested and nearly 12 kilograms of fentanyl were recovered as a result of the investigation.
“Today’s charges against the Highs gang are focused on the criminal organization’s extensive fentanyl trafficking operations,” said Luger. “Selling fentanyl in our communities is as dangerous and lethal as the brazen gun violence we’ve seen in our cities. Addressing the nexus between narcotics trafficking and violent crime is a critical piece of our Violent Crime Strategy, and I am grateful to my law enforcement partners who are equally focused on protecting the lives of Minnesotans, regardless of the threat.”
Other significant arrest announcements were made in May and August of this year. The U.S. Attorney's Office has been working with the FBI, the ATF, Minneapolis Police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in investigating and arresting offenders.
The overall goal is a complete takedown of violent street gangs as part of a federal violent crime strategy.