CLEVELAND — Dozens of people have now been charged with federal crimes relating to crimes targeted under Operation Legend, according to an update from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A total of 72 people have now been charged in the Cleveland area with federal crimes. Of those, 42 people have been brought up on narcotics charges, authorities said. Twenty-six people have been charged with firearm offenses, and four individuals have been charged with violent crimes.
“Operation Legend continues to remove persons prohibited from possession of firearms or ammunition, such as convicted felons, persons with histories of domestic violence, and traffickers of illegal narcotics off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “As long as drugs, violence, and illegal firearms continue to harm our community, we will use our collaborative law enforcement partnerships and any resources available under Operation Legend to fight back.”
Operation Legend is a federal initiative that was rolled out in July across multiple cities in America, including Cleveland, targeting violent crimes.
So far, nation-wide, more than 3,500 people have been arrested and more than 1,000 guns have been confiscated, authorities said. Of those people, two-hundred people were arrested on homicide charges.
Additionally, 19 kilos of heroin, around 14 kilos of cocaine, more than 11 kilos of fentanyl and more than 94 kilos of methamphetamine have been seized. The fentanyl alone was enough to deliver more than 5 million overdose deaths, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. More than $6.5 million in drug proceeds have also been seized.
RELATED: 32 people arrested in Cleveland as part of Operation Legend
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