United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NORFOLK, Va. – Over 100 law enforcement agents, officers and other personnel executed Operation High Tide this week, resulting in a series of arrests of individuals allegedly involved in selling drugs and guns in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth.

Operation High Tide is a large-scale narcotics trafficking and firearms investigation that has resulted in the recovery of over 65 firearms, over 7 kilograms of cocaine, nearly a kilogram of crack cocaine, over 625 grams of heroin, over 100 grams of fentanyl, 75 grams of acetyl fentanyl, 621 grams of hash oil, 24 grams of MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), 12 pounds of marijuana, 120 grams of methamphetamine and over $560,000 in cash. The narcotics seized have a street value of nearly $1 million.

“The safety and well-being of Virginia residents and visitors was positively impacted as a result of this comprehensive investigation and joint operation with our law enforcement partners,” said DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong. “The DEA is committed to working with our federal, state and local partners on operations such as this one, to safely remove violent criminals, guns and drugs from our neighborhoods.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives initiated Operation High Tide in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration's Washington Field Division, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth Police Departments and the Virginia State Police. This operation identified more than two dozen individuals throughout Hampton Roads who were illegally selling firearms, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and other narcotics.

“Operation High Tide is the latest highly-coordinated effort from federal, state, and local law enforcement to tackle violent crime in Hampton Roads,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia G. Zachary Terwilliger. “Through this operation, we are making our strong partnership known and felt in Hampton Roads, as we apprehend and remove from the streets those individuals who have allegedly committed serious offenses and put the safety of our communities in danger. Armed criminals are the principal players involved in the deadly cycles of turf battles and gang conflicts that deprive our neighborhoods and families of the peace and security they deserve. This coordinated operation reflects the skilled and brave work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, and is part of a law enforcement surge in this priority enforcement area for EDVA.”

 “ATF’s priority is reducing violent crime,” said ATF Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict. “Criminals often utilize firearms as tools of their trade causing harm to our communities. This case illustrates ATF’s commitment to effective law enforcement partnerships and dedication to keeping our cities safe.”

Special Agent in Charge Fong; U.S. Attorney Terwilliger; Attorney General of Virginia Mark R. Herring; Special Agent in Charge Benedict; Colonel Gary T. Settle, superintendent of Virginia State Police; Norfolk Police Chief Larry D. Boone; Col. K.L. Wright, chief of Chesapeake Police, and Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene made the announcement after the federal arrests were made and the indictments were unsealed.

Special Agent in Charge Fong thanks the ATF’s Norfolk Field Office; the Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth Police Departments and the Virginia State Police, and the assistance of the FBI, NCIS and the U.S. Marshals for their work in this operation. Special Agent in Charge Fong also thanks U.S. Attorney Terwilliger and Attorney General Herring, along with attorneys from the Drug and Violent Crime Unit of the Norfolk Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Kristin G. Bird, Andrew C. Bosse, John F. Butler, Megan M. Cowles, Sherrie Capotosto, Kevin M. Comstock, Joseph E. DePadilla, William B. Jackson, Darryl Mitchell and William D. Muhr, who are prosecuting the cases.

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