New Orleans Police today say a 7 week undercover operation led to the arrests of 17 suspected drug dealers, with warrants out for 23 more. Police commanders sounded hopeful that taking them off the streets would also have an impact on violent crime.
"We hope that it is going to go a long way in trying to stem of the problems that we're seeing," said Assistant Superintendent Kirk Bouyelas. "We believe that it will certainly take this element off the street."
The operation, described as a "buy/walk narcotics operation" by police, began May 26. Police said the investigation yielded arrest warrants for six heroin cases, 20 cases of dealing crack cocaine, 12 instances of marijuana dealing, two Xanax cases and two cases of suspects offering phony drugs.
Police also came across a drug deal in progress during the roundup. Officers arrested the suspected dealer and customer, and seized $718 in cash and 221 units of heroin with an estimated street value of $5,000.