CHICAGO — Authorities conducted "high-precision" raids that targeted people who help supply fentanyl-laced heroin in Chicago, police said.
Chicago Police organized undercover drug buys as part of the investigation after a rise of fatal overdoses linked to fentanyl-laced heroin use, according to a Police Department news release. Chicago Police worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration, State Police and other agencies on the raids.
Between Thursday night and Friday afternoon, 33 felons and gang members had been taken into custody as part of the raids, police said.
"Street gangs use the proceeds from the sales to purchase illegal guns to use against other gangs," said Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson at a Friday news conference at police headquarters. "The sales of these drugs have done more to affect the individual user. It has left multiple scars on our communities."
The raids took place in the Odgen (10th) District and the Harrison (11th) District, police said.
Of the 33 people arrested, three of them were hit with federal charges, 28 are documented gang members, 10 were parolees, and 25 or them had criminal records, Johnson said.
Fentanyl-laced heroin is 100 times more potent than morphine and puts users at a greater risk of overdose, experts say. In October, 74 overdoses were reported in 72 hours.
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