Massive Drug and Gun Sting Nets 28 Arrests Around DC Area
In a giant sting operation focused on the Bloods gang, over 300 agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested 28 people on December 6, 2017.
Federal officials named the sting Operation Tin Panda, which was started by the ATF in the spring as a collaborative effort with the FBI and many local law enforcement agencies, to investigate members of the Bloods gang and their involvement in violent crime, drugs, and guns in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
During the span of the investigation, more than 30 individuals in California, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, who were involved in related criminal acts, have been arrested.
A main goal of Operation Tin Panda was to disrupt and attempt to halt the Bloods’ participation in violent crime in the DC metro area. Officials allege that the Bloods’ activities are connected to six killings, over 20 shootings, a minimum of two carjackings and multiple home invasions.
According to authorities, the suspects were wanted in connection with crimes that included murder, robbery, shootings and drug and gun distribution. Operation Tin Panda recovered dozens of guns and large quantities of heroin and other drugs in addition to thousands of dollars in cash.
ATF officials explained that the widespread, highly coordinated sting operation involved several different types of investigative techniques including electronic media and physical surveillance. Authorities commented that 22 of the suspects are facing federal gun and drug charges, while the other six will face state charges.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force fighting drug and weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations.
If you are being investigated or facing any of the above charges and are in need of dedicated representation, it is essential for you to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.
