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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Over 30 people have been charged in a large drug and gun sweep in the Greater Lawrence area.
The bust, known as "Operation Emerald Crush," was the work of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI's Boston branch, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Massachusetts State Police.
A total of 32 people were arrested on various federal and state drug and gun charges. They're alleged to have sold a large number of guns, as well as fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
"Ten of them, two federal and eight state defendants, are alleged to be members of the Trinitarios, a violent street gang that originated at Rikers Island Jail in New York City in the 1990s," said U.S. District Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling.
Two of those charged were juveniles. The FBI said in a series of tweets that the pair, a 16- and 17-year-old, sold guns to undercover agents.
The FBI's North Shore Gang Task Force made over 70 controlled narcotics buys as part of the operation, "including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl with an estimated street value of more than $120,000."
The massive operation netted 79 guns, including assault weapons.
"Today's arrests have disrupted a violent firearms and drug trafficking ring and sent a clear message: If you are hustling guns and drugs in our cities, you will wake up one morning to law enforcement at your door," said FBI SAC Joseph Bonavolonta. "Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to attack violent crime with all our resources because every law-abiding citizen must be free to walk down any street—in any of our cities—without the fear of getting caught in the crosshairs of a violent crime."
A full list of those arrested can be found on the Department of Justice website.
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