Baltimore's war on drugs marked a recent victory with a significant takedown by the Baltimore Police Department's Southwest District Action Team (DAT). Officers confiscated drugs, firearms, and cash after a month-long investigation targeting drug trafficking in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood. According to a statement from the Baltimore Police Department, the operation honed in on areas near Wilkens Avenue and Dover Street, culminating last Thursday.
The sweep allowed police to drastically sweep up illegal substances and weapons from the streets. Search warrants executed at residences on the 1800 block of West Lombard Street and the 900 block of Dalton Avenue resulted in the seizure of one kilogram of suspected fentanyl, 1,100 fentanyl capsules, a rifle, a Polymer80 "Ghost Gun," and $16,127 in U.S. currency. The Baltimore Police also found large amounts of packaging materials consistent with drug distribution. Six individuals were arrested in connection with these findings, the eldest being 44 years of age, and the youngest, a 17-year-old female.
Those arrested during this orchestrated crackdown included individuals ranging in age from 17 to 44. Among them were 32-year-old Eric Taylor, 33-year-old Derrick Stewart, and 41-year-old Matthew Brown. The list continues with 44-year-old Natasha Wilkins, 19-year-old Elijah Dukes, and a 17-year-old female, whose name has not been disclosed. The collaborative effort to bring down this drug ring involved not only BPD officers and detectives but also the assistance of the Southwest District Patrol and Intelligence Center, Citywide Enforcement Team, Citywide Robbery, and the Baltimore County SWAT.
