A group of over 12 individuals were apprehended on Wednesday morning following a series of raids conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Indianapolis.
Warrants were served across Marion, Johnson, Owen, and Hamilton counties.
Law enforcement officers executed search warrants in several counties including Marion, Johnson, Owen, and Hamilton.
The IMPD, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been working together for several months on an ongoing investigation.
“We did find the individuals we were looking for, in addition to recovering several firearms and different quantities of controlled substances, and some of those substances include fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, those were the drugs that we were focused on throughout this investigation,” said Supervisory Special Agent with DEA, Daniel Schmidt.
Law enforcement officials have identified a number of individuals involved in drug trafficking both in the city and across the state of Indiana. According to the police, these suspects are also believed to be responsible for a significant amount of the violence that has been occurring.
“That’s the big headliner here, right, dealing illegal narcotics that can result in people’s death, but often the violence that’s associated with maintaining that kind of operation, we know for fact that individuals must use a certain level of violence to maintain their position within the ecosystem of illegal narcotics. So, it’s not only the illegal narcotics that we’re getting off the street immediately, it often is the violence that goes along with it,” said IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams. “The chief of IMPD has been very clear that we will continue to focus on individuals that perpetuate violence.”
Raids were conducted by the DEA in Marion County at two locations. One raid took place in the 300 block of W. 31st Street, while the other occurred in the 2900 block of S. Taft St.
Marion County holds the designation of a HIDTA, an acronym for high intensity drug trafficking area. Law enforcement views drug seizures as crucial for saving lives.
IMPD was asked about their current observations on the streets of Indianapolis by WRTV.
Adams: “We see overdoses, we see disputes. We see violence associated with, again, maintaining their position within the ecosystem. So, you know, that’s typical of drug organizations, and that’s why today was important, because we feel like today was an opportunity to make a make a dent in that, in that, in that continued effort. It won’t be the last time. We’ll continue to focus, even towards the end of the year and going into next year with organizations that put themselves together as a drug trafficking organization.”
Schmidt: “Our primary message is that we’re just not going to tolerate that here in Central Indiana. We will always target these types of drug trafficking organizations, and put every resource we have available, federal, state, local, everything we can do to keep combating these groups. I think it’s pretty obvious that a lot of the violence here in the city is tied to drug trafficking, and so that remains our focus to help keep it safe here in Central Indiana.”