BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced the results of an “operation aimed at combatting illegal narcotics sales, gun violence and homicides in Pompano Beach” Wednesday morning.
According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office News release, the effort was dubbed “Operation Trigger Lock.”
It was a partnership between BSO, the Broward State Attorney’s Office and multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations Miami and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“As a result of the six-week sweep, investigators conducted 14 residential search warrants, made 132 arrests and recovered 38 firearms and drugs including cocaine, fentanyl, alpha PVP, oxycodone and heroin,” BSO spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright said in a news release.
Tony said the operation primarily focused on the northwestern part of Pompano Beach.
“We’re literally taking people off who have shot at vehicles,” Tony said. “It’s nice that we got them off the street.”
He added, “These are some very bad, violent individuals, armed to the teeth, at times having more firepower than we do.”
Tony also encouraged government officials to work on quality-of-life issues in the area, including addressing “problematic” businesses that provide “safe havens” to criminals.
He also encouraged them to provide more educational and employment opportunities.
Watch news conference: