INDIANAPOLIS — A series of raids led by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) led to the arrest of more than 12 people Wednesday morning.
Warrants were served throughout Marion, Johnson, Owen and Hamilton counties.
The DEA said meth, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana were seized during raids, along with several firearms. One state arrest and twelve federal arrests were made.
An investigation has been ongoing for several months in a collaboration between IMPD, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
"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 identified several perpetrators of drug trafficking in the city and throughout Indiana. Police said the suspects were also responsible for widespread violence.
"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."
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said its SWAT team assisted the DEA in serving federal court orders at a home in the 1500 block of Churchill Street.
In Marion County, A DEA Spokesperson said raids took place in the 300 block of W. 31st Street and the 2900 block of S. Taft St.
Marion County is considered a HIDTA, which means a high intensity drug trafficking area. Police consider the seizures of drugs to be lifesaving.
WRTV asked what IMPD is seeing on the streets of Indianapolis right now.
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."
