By Ricardo Roura
At least 17 people were arrested during an anti-drug operation carried out this Wednesday by federal and local agents in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California.
The drug raid was led by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)in which officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also took part.
The operation focused primarily on MacArthur Parkbut law enforcement also detained suspects in South Los Angeles, as well as in Calabasas and San Gabriel, the DEA confirmed.
Keep reading: FBI arrests members of the 18th Avenue gang in Los Angeles
As part of the drug raid, Agents seized 19.8 pounds (9 kilograms) of fentanylwhich are worth between $8 million and $10 million, according to First Assistant United States Attorney Invoice Essayli.
The Justice Department said that the action called “Operation Free MacArthur Park” aims to address what is described as an open-air drug market that is rampant in the park, with large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“Federal agents have taken protection from MacArthur Park to execute federal arrest and search warrants directed at the infamous open-air drug market there,” Essayli said.
Keep reading: Proposal to fence MacArthur Park sparks controversy
In his post, Essayli said that 25 people have been charged in a federal criminal complaint for crimes of distribution and possession of narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, and that the arrests have been carried out in the last 24 hours.
According to Calabasas resident Essayli, the biggest alleged drug trafficker operating in MacArthur Park, is in the custody of federal agents and could face a possible sentence of life in prison.
Agents wearing tactical gear were observed in the area. in front of a small business located across the street from MacArthur Parkas well as an officer using a chainsaw to cut an exterior wall.
Keep reading: MacArthur Park Small Businesses and Street Vendors Alone and Broke
DEA officials said that another objective of the operation is to “clean up the community” before the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The DEA mentioned that the exercise of federal agents aims stop drug traffickers linked to cartels.
According to the federal agency, 200 of its troops participated in the operationas well as 70 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Keep reading:
· ICE carries out spectacular operation in Los Angeles that sparked criticism from Mayor Bass
· Mayor Bass: ‘Violent crimes decrease in MacArthur Park’
· Vendors displaced from MacArthur Park but problems persist
