Police decapitated a massive drug operation trafficking heroin and the often fatal painkiller fentanyl on the streets of Chicago.
Authorities announced the sweeping arrests Thursday, charging 65 people for distributing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in the West Side of Chicago. The investigation, known as “Operation Sweet Dreams,” began more than a year ago between state and federal authorities, which monitored members of the drug ring to uncover the scope of the operation. On one occasion in October, investigators witnessed a suspect purchasing “two kilograms of heroin in exchange for $132,800 in cash,” reports NBC Chicago.
Over the course of the investigation authorities seized more than a dozen firearms, more than three kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of cocaine and more than $380,000 in cash.
“This takedown, which is large and significant, is the culmination of a 14-month joint state and federal investigation,” U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon said in a statement Thursday. “Heroin and fentanyl are killing people on a daily basis in the greater Chicago area.”
The prevalence of the opiate-based painkiller fentanyl, known to be 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, is blamed for helping spark the large increases in overdoses across the country. Suppliers cut the substance into heroin batches, increasing the risk of a fatal overdose.
The presence of the deadly substances is causing a new problem for police conducting drug raids. In the chaos of a major drug bust, heroin powder can go airborne, poisoning officers exposed. Police are now cautioned to avoid field-testing due to the risk of exposure.
Police are making recent headway against major trafficking operations feeding addiction in the U.S. A two-year joint investigation by the Chester County Detectives and Pennsylvania State Police dubbed “Operation Crushed Ice” ended in 49 arrests. The drug ring extended across the U.S. from the Delaware Valley to Arizona and even Puerto Rico.
Police seized undisclosed amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription narcotics during a number of raids conducted in January. They also confiscated roughly 40 firearms, more than 20 cars, scales and packaging materials.
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