60-Day Police, DEA Investigation Nets Dozens In Drug Sweep

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Baltimore City police and the DEA round up suspects in drug cases who are also persons of interest in shooting investigations.

WJZ's Pat Warren has more on the 60-day investigation.

Sky Eye Chopper 13 over the scene of a deadly daytime shooting in Brooklyn, a south Baltimore neighborhood where police say gangs, the Black Guerillas, Bloods, and Dead Man Incorporated overlap.

"The main purpose is to make money, so it's not unique or different that we see some cross-affiliations operating in the same area," said DEA Deputy Commissioner Dean Palmere.

An area police and the DEA targeted and executed 20 search warrants netting 12 arrests and 6 more suspects on the wanted list.

"These individuals were indicted for their drug distribution, but they're also suspects and persons of interest in murders and in non-fatal shootings," said Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.

This has been one of the city's bloodiest years since the 90's, the death toll likely to be more than 300 by the end of the year. As of Sunday, there are 294. With the DEA as a partner, police have stepped up their game.

"In these particular instances we have to look at conducting shorter term investigations so we can quickly get the evidence necessary and take the organizations down," said DEA special agent special Don Hibbert.

And in this case that included drugs, guns, and money.

Commissioner Davis says the city partnership with the DEA is making inroads in getting violent criminals off the streets.

By the end of October city homicides were up 55% from the same time last year.