16 Fugitives Arrested: Drugs, Stolen Firearms Recovered

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — An early-morning operation of 200 law enforcement officers Monday resulted in 16 arrests and the recovery of drugs and guns.

Law enforcement officers met at 5 a.m. for Operation Purge, a multi-jurisdictional operation targeting fugitives with outstanding felony warrants.

Operation Purge is a national effort initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in which the FBI collaborates with local law enforcement agencies across the country to locate suspects with outstanding warrants in their respective jurisdictions.

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The operation involved nearly 200 law enforcement officers, who were divided into multiple teams to search targeted areas believed to be frequented by various fugitives. By 10 a.m., the teams had checked 125 locations. Their efforts resulted in the arrests of an additional 16 fugitives wanted on a variety of felony charges. They also located 140 grams of marijuana and three firearms, two of which were confirmed stolen, which resulted in additional charges.

Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway expressed his appreciation for the FBI and the many agencies who supported this operation.

"I appreciate every one of the nearly 200 law enforcement officers who showed up in the dark yesterday morning to arrest fugitives," he said. "When law enforcement agencies pool resources and work together, the community benefits. We all share the common goal of increasing safety for everyone."

Through this initiative, the FBI reviewed 1,907 outstanding felony warrants in Gwinnett County over a thirty-day period and determined that 21 of the fugitives were deceased and 392 of the fugitives are currently incarcerated.

The FBI met with law enforcement officers from the following agencies met at a designated location in Norcross Monday to set Operation Purge into motion:

GWINNETT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
GEORGIA STATE PATROL
BRASELTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT
LAWRENCEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
LILBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUWANEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION