BALTIMOREIn the largest coordinated crime takedown in the city’s history, federal, state, and local law enforcement officials revealed Wednesday that four criminal organizations involved in violent crime, drug trafficking, and firearm violations in southwest Baltimore had been dismantled. As a result of the investigation, 40 defendants were charged with state felonies related to the distribution of firearms and drugs, and two defendants, Ivan Roman and Andre Berry, were charged federally.
As part of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), the investigation found a lot of criminal activities in the neighborhoods of Millington Avenue, Edmondson Avenue, Pratt Street, and Lemmon Street. In almost a year, police confiscated 65 firearms, including automatic weapons and ghost guns, along with three kilos of suspected heroin/fentanyl mixture, 110 pounds of marijuana, 7.25 kilograms of suspected cocaine, $373,275.50 in cash, body armor, and 15 stolen cars. Additionally, authorities prevented violent situations such as a territory struggle between rival gangs and an armed robbery.
According to U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, this operation demonstrates that we have advanced the Strike Force in the fight against violent crime in the Baltimore area. We are a force multiplier for the efforts of our state and local colleagues on the ground, so violent offenders best watch out.
Law enforcement discovered other sources of cocaine and fentanyl being imported from outside Maryland during the investigation, including a sizable supply coming from New York. Six weapons, 525 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl mixture, 340 grams of suspected cocaine, and more than $9,700 in narcotics proceeds were found during search warrants that were carried out earlier this month.
“Dismantling these operations marks a significant step forward in our mission to protect our communities from the dangers of illegal drugs and violence,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates, emphasizing the operation’s collaborative character. In addition to stopping the flow of harmful drugs, we are making it clear that Baltimore will not put up with criminal activity that endangers the security and welfare of its citizens.
Charges against defendants include conspiracy to distribute drugs, illegal firearm sales, managing and taking part in criminal groups, and, in certain situations, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery. Disrupting violent criminal businesses in the Baltimore area is the goal of the ongoing investigation, which is a component of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force and the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods project.
This extensive operation makes it very evident that Baltimore’s law enforcement partners and agencies are committed to eliminating violent crime and criminal organizations.
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