Miami/Fulton Counties – Recently, six police departments in north central Indiana teamed up for three days to help stem the flow of illegal narcotics into Hoosier communities.
Officers from the Indiana State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, and the Rochester Police Department utilized marked and unmarked police cars to conduct saturation patrols on U.S. 31 in Miami and Fulton Counties. Patrol officers were augmented by K-9 officers utilizing narcotic detecting police dogs.
Officers dubbed the unannounced three day patrols “Operation Blue Wave.” The goal was to catch and arrest individuals who utilize Indiana roadways to transport and distribute illegal narcotics. U.S. 31 was chosen because a large volume of motorists utilize the road to travel through the heart of northern Indiana. Officers wanted to serve notice that as the summer temperatures increase, so will their vigilance in keeping illegal narcotics from reaching Hoosier communities.
June 24th through June 26thh, officers teamed up to make 30 criminal arrests on 82 different drug related charges. Twenty-eight of the charges were classified as felonies. Officers also issued 57 traffic citations and 94 written warnings. During the three days, officers located LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, edible marijuana food, and prescription medication. They also located drug paraphernalia. All of the contraband was found during traffic stops made by the various police departments.
“As the summer driving season ramps up police officers want to remind drivers in Indiana to follow all traffic laws,” stated Daniel Prus, sergeant with the Indiana State Police. “To the few motorists that transport illegal narcotics through Indiana, police officers will use all of the resources at their disposal to catch and arrest you.”
Citizens are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agencies with any information about the possession, distribution, or selling of illegal narcotics. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling the Indiana State Police Drug and Gang Hotline at 1-800-453-4756.
