CHICAGO NEWS
April 17, 2014
Public Information Officer
Office: (312) 886-2597
65 Arrested in Raids by Federal, State and Local Officials
APR 18 (MINNEAPOLIS)  - In a major enforcement operation starting in the pre-dawn hours this morning, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its law enforcement partners arrested dozens of individuals facing charges for their alleged roles in supplying and distributing heroin in Minnesota. Some of the individuals connected to this investigation were arrested in the days and weeks leading up to today's operation. Additional arrests are anticipated. Andrew M. Luger, United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, and Jack Riley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the massive statewide enforcement action, known as "Operation Exile," which dismantled and disrupted heroin trafficking networks throughout the state of Minnesota.
SAC Jack Riley detailing DEA's partnership with law enforcement at a press conference announcing Operation Exile.
Mr. Luger praised the DEA for bringing local, state and federal law enforcement together to coordinate efforts to combat heroin trafficking. "In recent years, high purity inexpensive heroin in powder form has been imported to Minnesota in large quantities. Operation Exile is a coordinated law enforcement campaign to investigate and prosecute heroin traffickers at all levels in Minnesota. Our goal is to make it as difficult as possible for drug cartels to bring heroin to our state."
Luger also emphasized the work the United States Attorney's Office is doing with the County Attorney's Offices. "State and Federal prosecutors are working in close coordination to make certain that the people who distribute this poison in our state are charged and brought to justice. Our goal is to tackle the problem of heroin addiction before heroin traffickers become embedded in our community. Operation Exile is an important step in making Minnesota off limits to large scale heroin distributors," said Luger.
SAC Riley is surrounded by partner Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, US Attorney Andrew Luger, and County Prosecutors.
"I'm proud of the work done by all of our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to achieve these results, and I'm confident that with our continued partnership we will have increasing success," said SAC Riley. "This operation is representative of the commitment and cooperation that is necessary to dismantle drug trafficking networks. Today's arrests should serve as a notice that the DEA and its law enforcement partners stand shoulder to shoulder in our commitment and we will use every available legal avenue to target these networks, to make our communities safer," he added.