LAW ENFORCEMENT DISMANTLES LARGE-SCALE DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION

Wicomico County, MD - On December 11, 2024, a significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking was announced. An important collaborative effort between the Maryland Department of State Police, the Fruitland Police Department, the Office of the State's Attorney for Wicomico County, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, known collectively as Wicomico Narcotics, led to the indictment of 39 individuals for drug trafficking.

The operation, which began in the spring of 2024, spanned over five months and included multiple local, state, and federal agencies. More than two dozen of these agencies cooperated to dismantle a large-scale drug trafficking scheme operating in the counties of Wicomico, Dorchester, and Baltimore. The primary focus of the operation was the sale and distribution of illicit substances, specifically cocaine and fentanyl.

This past August, Wicomico Narcotics and the Drug Enforcement Administration's Salisbury Regional Office executed several searches and seizure warrants across the implicated counties. These operations yielded a substantial haul of narcotics - over 2,500 grams of suspected cocaine, nearly 30 grams of fentanyl, additional felony narcotics, fourteen firearms, and four vehicles believed to be used in drug transportation.

This noteworthy accomplishment was funded by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention Policy and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. Wicomico Narcotics is acknowledged as a Washington/Baltimore HIDTA-funded initiative. The Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network also supported the operation, which provided strategic assistance and grant funding, facilitating inter-agency collaboration and data sharing.

Assisting agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Maryland State Police, Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Worcester Sheriff's Office, Wicomico Sheriff's Office, Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, Talbot County Sheriff's Office, Kent County Sheriff's Office, Caroline County Sheriff's Office, Strike Force 7, Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office, Eastern Shore Information Center, Homeland Security Investigations, Salisbury Police Department, Ocean City Police Department, and the Maryland Department of Transportation Authority Police.

The successful operation underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies at all levels to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. This joint effort has dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking on the Eastern Shore, contributing significantly to the safety of Maryland communities.