News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2001
For additional information, contact:
Michael L. Chapman, Chief, Public Affairs
(202) 307-7977

DEA And Other Agencies Culminate 17-Month Drug Investigation of Major International Drug Trafficking Organization

The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with other federal, state and local agencies culminated a 17 month investigation targeting a major drug trafficking organization. The investigation, dubbed Operation Perfect Storm, initially targeted low level distribution cells operating in the greater Boston area. Through cooperative investigative efforts, authorities were able to identify the sources of supply for the Boston trafficking cells. These cells were operating out of New York, New Jersey, and Florida and were already being targeted by federal authorities on unrelated investigations.

Since its inception, this multi-agency law enforcement effort has resulted in the arrests of approximately 144 defendants, the seizure of over 2,700 kilograms of cocaine, 17 kilograms of heroin and $3,000,000 US currency.

According to DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson, “This is one of the most significant investigations conducted by DEA in recent months. Operation Perfect Storm demonstrates that pooling resources from federal, state, and local agencies, law enforcement can successfully remove drug traffickers from the streets of America.”

Operation Perfect Storm was coordinated by Special Operations Division, a multi-agency law enforcement program, comprised of attorneys from the Department of Justice Criminal Division, and agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs Service and the Internal Revenue Service.

Other agencies participating in this investigation are the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Suffolk County Narcotics Unit, Chelsea Drug Task Force, Boston Police Department, Middlesex County Narcotics Unit, Office of Inspector General HUD, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, New York State Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office, New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Attorney’s Office.