United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a coordinated three-month multi-jurisdictional enforcement surge that resulted in 56 defendants charged federally, over 254 kilograms of drugs seized including more than 22 kilograms of fentanyl, 110 illegal firearms recovered, and 157 fugitives apprehended on state and federal charges throughout the region. 

The operation targeted violent offenders, drug traffickers, armed felons, and fugitives responsible for spreading deadly drugs, driving gun violence, and increasing crime across district and state lines. 

“We usually see increased violent crime and drug crimes during the summer – this operation was meant to get ahead of that and get the worst offenders off the streets before they can recruit others to their life of street crime this summer,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We all know criminals don’t respect district or state lines, and that is why this coordinated effort involved multiple agencies in North and South Carolina. We wanted to make clear you cannot commit a crime in North Carolina and escape across the state line to avoid getting caught.”

Federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS CRFTF) worked in coordination with state and local law enforcement in North Carolina and South Carolina to identify, investigate, and apprehend individuals trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, illegally possessing firearms, and committing violent crimes impacting communities throughout the region. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also coordinated closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina, which participated in the surge and brought additional federal cases in South Carolina.

“Partnerships are force multipliers,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division which oversees North and South Carolina.  “Results from these investigations underscore the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts in combating violent crime and drug trafficking. Today’s outcome is a testament to what can be achieved when agencies unite toward a common goal. Together, we removed dangerous narcotics and illegal firearms from the streets while bringing wanted fugitives into custody.” 

“It takes a multi-faceted, multi-agency approach to successfully fight violent crime,” said Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF in North and South Carolina. “Through resource and intelligence sharing, investigative capabilities, and an unwavering commitment to uphold the law, ATF and our law enforcement partners are identifying dangerous offenders, disrupting criminal organizations, and making our communities safer.”

“People willing to commit violent crimes don’t care about city and county lines. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach, share intelligence in real time, and target threats at every level. There is no revolving door or parole in the federal justice system, instead there are real consequences for violent repeat offenders. The FBI will do everything we can to support our federal, state, and local partners to hold violent criminals accountable,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge. 

“HSI will use every tool and resource at our disposal to dismantle criminal networks and protect the people we serve. Whether it’s drug traffickers, violent offenders, or fugitives, crime has no safe haven in North or South Carolina. If you bring crime to our communities, we will bring the full strength of our partnerships to your door,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. “We are grateful for the dedication and teamwork of our federal, state, and local partners—together, we are making our communities safer and stronger.”

“The success of this unique operation is a direct result of outstanding interagency cooperation,” stated Jamaal Thompson, Commander of the United States Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. “By working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, we were able to arrest some of the most dangerous individuals in our community safely and effectively. Through collaborative efforts such as Operation Spring Cleaning, and with a shared commitment to public safety, our communities are safer.”

“Operation Spring Cleaning highlights the power of collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said CMPD Chief Estella D. Patterson. “Many of the cases announced today began with CMPD officers making contacts at the street level and identifying criminal activity in our neighborhoods. I am proud of our officers, who continue to be the boots on the ground and are often the first link in investigations that lead to the removal of illegal firearms, drug traffickers, and violent offenders from our community. Together, we are making Charlotte safer.”

Operation Spring Cleaning led to significant enforcement results: 

Federal defendants charged in connection with the enforcement surge face charges for drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, armed robbery, and other violent offenses.

Operation Spring Cleaning is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office ongoing violent crime reduction strategy focused on partnering with law enforcement agencies at all levels to dismantle drug networks, reduce the number of illegal guns and gun trafficking in the region, combat gun-induced violence, and identify and prosecute violent offenders who drive criminal activity across district and state lines through intelligence sharing and coordination among law enforcement agencies. 

The operation also supports the Justice Department’s broader efforts of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the federal, state, and local agencies that participated in the operation, including: South Carolina U.S. Attorney Brian Stirling, the DEA, ATF, FBI, HSI, USMS CRFTF, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Anson County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the York County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, the Asheville Police Department, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, the Hickory Police Department, and the Rock Hill Police Department in South Carolina. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina is in charge of the federal prosecutions in North Carolina. 

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