Minneapolis police have been ramping up efforts to sweep the streets of illegal firearms, a move emblematic of an intensified focus on curbing gun violence in the city. Recent operations have led to multiple arrests and the seizure of several weapons, some of which had been reported stolen, as detailed in a report by the Minneapolis Police Department.

In one instance, the Southside REACT team executed a search warrant on a residence tied to a narcotics probe and found a potpourri of drugs, ammo, cash, and a firearm inside, followed by a second gun and more narcotics in the suspect’s vehicle, leading to an arrest. The department disclosed that further investigations revealed one of the gathered firearms to be stolen. Keeping their momentum, First Precinct officers halted an unlicensed vehicle only to spot a firearm in plain sight on the passenger seat, unearthing an additional weapon inside—again, one appeared in records as stolen—and the driver faced arrest without a proper carry permit.

Meanwhile, after responding to reports of gunfire, Third Precinct officers detained three juveniles matching witness descriptions; two were found in possession of guns, with at least one gun marked as stolen. The arrests punctuated a broader and distressing trend of youth entanglement in gun-related crimes. The police department's fraught relationship with the community, still tender from past unrest, underpins these aggressive tactics against illegal arms proliferation.

"The proliferation of illegal firearms on our streets continues to be a problem," stated Chief Brian O’Hara, in acknowledgment of the daunting challenge faced by law enforcement. These three incidents are just a snapshot of daily efforts by Minneapolis’ police as officers partake in a relentless grind to maintain public safety O’Hara, in his praise for the department's work ethic, highlighted the "resiliency and relentless dedication our members have for protecting our residents."