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Published on November 08, 2024
Phoenix Police Swoop in "Operation Night Owl", Millions of Fentanyl Pills Seized and 17 Drug Lords Indicted in Arizona!Source: City of Phoenix

The streets of Phoenix are a little safer today after a major crackdown on an international drug trafficking network. The Phoenix Police Department (PPD), in collaboration with federal partners, successfully concluded Operation Night Owl, a comprehensive investigation into drug and money laundering activities spanning across borders. According to a press release by the City of Phoenix, this year-long surveillance and infiltration effort has culminated in significant seizures and indictments.

Through relentless efforts, The PPD's Drug Enforcement Bureau (DEB) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have disrupted the nefarious activities of drug traffickers—with the haul including millions of pills, loads of narcotics, and thousands of dollars, as reported by the City of Phoenix. An investigation, which was initiated with aid from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, targeted the heads of several drug cartels operating out of Arizona and Mexico.

Detailed in the Phoenix Police Department's statement, the haul from Operation Night Owl entails an astonishing two million fentanyl pills, over 21 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 133 pounds of methamphetamine, 12.6 pounds of heroin, and 8.5 kilograms of cocaine. The operation also netted approximately $75,000 in cash, 15 firearms, and a dozen vehicles implicated in the scheme. Seventeen indictments have been issued against members of these drug trafficking organizations.

The operation was a testament to interagency collaboration, with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement from multiple states joining forces. Agencies from Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada all played instrumental roles in the success of this comprehensive operation. After more than 3,000 hours of surveillance and the issuance of upwards of 200 court orders and search warrants, the PPD and their partners have sent a clear message to drug traffickers that their illegal activities will not be tolerated.