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Mayor Brown Announces New Round Of Successful Drug Raids

Over Past Two Weeks, Buffalo Police-Led Raids Result in 35 Arrests and Seizure of Drugs, Guns and Over $25,000 in Cash

For the second time in two weeks, Mayor Byron W. Brown today joined members of the Buffalo Police Department to highlight another round of drug raids that brought about several arrests and the seizure of drugs, illegal guns and cash.

“Following another well-coordinated, two-day operation targeting homes suspected of harboring illegal drug trafficking, the Buffalo Police Department, aided by several partnering law enforcement agencies, made thirteen arrests, confiscated drugs, cash and illegal guns,” said Mayor Brown. “As I stated last week following another two-day series of coordinated raids, we promised that we would be relentless in our pursuit of criminals harming our residents’ quality of life and we continue to fulfill that promise. These well-planned raids will continue and I thank the dedication and determination of the professional men and women of the Buffalo Police Department, as well as our many law enforcement partners, for their continuing success in arresting these criminals.”

The recent drug raids focused on neighborhoods in the Fruit Belt and in the Broadway/Fillmore area. In all, 32 search warrants were executed and 13 arrests were made, mostly on weapons possession and drug charges.

“The Mayor has made it clear that he wants the Buffalo Police Department to be relentless in its pursuit of these criminals that are harming neighborhood residents’ quality of life and we are doing just that,” said Commissioner Derenda. “Anyone who thinks they can profit from any type of criminal action couldn’t be more wrong. We will track them down, arrest them and put them in jail.”

The raids were coordinated and led by the Buffalo Police Narcotics Unit, SWAT Team, Mobile Response Unit and the Department’s K-9 Unit. Buffalo Police were assisted by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, NFTA Emergency Response Unit, Erie County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Amherst Police Department Emergency Response Team, Tonawanda SWAT team and the Lancaster SWAT Team.

Police confiscated over one pound of marijuana, over 3 ounces of crack cocaine, illicit prescription drugs (oxycontin), recovered 2 shotguns. They also seized $23,645 in cash.

Last week, the BPD’s two-day drug raids that were conducted on Monday November 1st and Tuesday, November 2nd focused on neighborhoods in the Masten District, east of Main Street on Jewett Parkway and Marigold Street and in the Cambridge Avenue-East Delavan area. In all, 23 search warrants were executed and 17 arrests were made, mostly on weapons possession and drug charges.

“The Mayor has made it clear that he wants the Buffalo Police Department to be relentless in its pursuit of these criminals that are harming neighborhood residents’ quality of life and we are doing just that,” said Commissioner Derenda. “Anyone who thinks they can profit from any type of criminal action couldn’t be more wrong. We will track them down, arrest them and put them in jail.”

Last week’s raids were coordinated and led by the Buffalo Police Narcotics Squad and Buffalo SWAT, with assistance from NFTA Police, Erie County Sheriffs and Amherst Police.

During those raids, police confiscated over 7 lbs of marijuana and 3 oz. of crack cocaine, recovered 3 weapons: 2 shotguns and an AK-47. They also seized two thousand dollars in cash.

To date, over 700 search warrants have been executed this year through the Buffalo Police Department, including a late September 2010 two-day operation conducted by Buffalo Police Narcotic Squad Detectives that resulted in 25 arrests in and around Carl, Cambridge, East Delavan, Ernst, Glenwood, Moselle, Northumberland, Stevens and Sussex Streets plus other areas including Bennett Village, Goodyear and Langfield.