In what marks a significant crackdown on drug trafficking in West Baltimore, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the State’s Attorney’s Office have successfully secured 19 indictments against individuals linked to three separate Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs). According to a press release from the State’s Attorney's Office, the joint operation targeted groups based in the Penn North area and resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs, currency, and firearms.
The first investigation, beginning in January 2025, by the BPD's Group Violence Unit, unveiled a DTO in the vicinity of Cumberland Street and N. Carey Street, known for selling heroin/fentanyl, which was marketed under the name “550,” and cocaine. The strategic infiltration by detectives led to the identification and indictment of seven individuals, including Dominic Lambert and Kevin Fowlkes. State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates emphasized the dedication of the Major Investigations Unit and its critical role in the operation, stating, “It is through this partnership that we have been able to dismantle three criminal organizations so quickly and begin the crucial process of delivering justice and accountability.”
Following on the heels of the initial bust, detectives spotlighted a second DTO centered around N. Calhoun Street, known for their “Six-Nine” branded fentanyl and cocaine. This investigation similarly led to seven arrests, including individuals Genard Hope and Damon Grady, among others. The series of search-and-seizure operations resulted in the discovery of a variety of contraband, ranging from fentanyl/heroin mixes, a sawed-off shotgun, and handguns, to narcotics paraphernalia, indicating the extensive reach of the DTOs within affected communities.
In the wake of a mass opioid overdose event in July 2025, the GVU, along with the DEA's support, clamped down on a DTO on Brunt Street in Baltimore's Western District, culminating in investigations that stretched over five months with extensive surveillance and investigative procedures leading to the identification of key players, including Shawn Oliver and Kevin Malone. Despite the significant police presence initially driving DTOs to shift their operations from W. North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue to surrounding areas, their activities did not go unnoticed, leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, weapons, and thousands in U.S. currency.
Unyielding in their pursuit of justice, the allied forces of the BPD, DEA, and the State's Attorney's Office stand vigilant against the scourge of illegal narcotics distribution, stanching a ray of hope in an otherwise relentless and shadowed struggle against the opioid epidemic's blight on the community.
