The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division (NYD) recently arrested 12 individuals for alleged drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic firearms.
The DEA said several of the arrested were members of the MS-13 gang.
“Gang activity and gang violence almost always involve drug trafficking,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said in a press release. “Our investigations have taken us down numerous paths, but none more dangerous than those precipitated by gang-related crime. These arrests demonstrate law enforcement's quick and efficient ability to identify and dismantle this drug trafficking network that is responsible for furthering drug addiction and gun violence in our communities.”
The investigation was initiated in June 2021 by the DEA, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and the Suffolk County Police Department looking into the sale of narcotics by or to MS-13 gang members, the release said.
A search warrant was executed on Oct. 26 for a room rented at the Hilton Home2 Suites Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. This resulted in the recovery of a loaded pistol and one arrest, the DEA said.
More search warrants and arrests were part of the operation. Upon the arrest of the 12 individuals, the DEA said one was alleged to have been part of a murder conspiracy.
