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Police Arrest 19 in West Side Drug Bust

By DNAinfo Staff on December 6, 2012 7:50pm

 Police targeted a drug market controlled by the Gangster Disciples in East Garfield Park and arrested a total of 24 in connection with the “open-air” drug market Thursday.
Police targeted a drug market controlled by the Gangster Disciples in East Garfield Park and arrested a total of 24 in connection with the “open-air” drug market Thursday.
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DNAinfo/Darryl Holliday

EAST GARFIELD PARK — Cops arrested 19 people Thursday in an operation that targeted gang and drug activity in an area of the West Side controlled by the Gangster Disciples, police said tonight.

Police targeted the area near West Van Buren Street and South Kilbourn Avenue in East Garfield Park.

Of the 24 arrested in connection with the investigation — five had already been taken in to custody and were awaiting indictment — most had gang affiliations, according to a Chicago Police Department news release.

To bust the drug-slingers, police used surveillance tactics and bought narcotics from dealers, identifying 27 suspects.

Police pointed to gang and drug activity as the reason behind recent violence in the area.

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said police targeted gang and drug activity “at the street level.”

“When we focus on the areas in our communities most susceptible to violence we are working toward achieving our goal of reducing violence citywide,” he said.