09-10-2008, 01:47 AM
Great Job Boynton Beach Police and all dept's involved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
450 officers raid Boynton neighborhood to break cocaine ring
By Jerome Burdi | Sun-Sentinel.com
1:40 PM EDT, September 9, 2008
BOYNTON BEACH - More than 400 law enforcement officers descended on a Boynton Beach neighborhood this morning to dismantle a crack cocaine distribution ring that's operated in the city for decades, Police Chief Matthew Immler said.
Local police, working with other police and federal agents from 11 different agencies, made dozens of arrests in the Heart of Boynton neighborhoods in the northeast side of the city, Immler said. About 450 officers were involved.
He called it the biggest drug sting in the history of Palm Beach County. During the year-and-a-half-long investigation, police and federal drug agents seized a pound of crack cocaine with a street value of $20,000, and a pound of powder cocaine worth about $16,000.
Immler credited his department's community policing efforts for gathering information over the past year and a half that led to the crackdown. He said the ring had been terrorizing residents.
"Although we have no illusions that we have rid the city of narcotics and its associated problems, we have made a significant leap forward in our crime fighting efforts by partnering with our citizens to improve the quality of life for those residing in the Heart of Boynton," Immler said.
More than eight dozen federal and state arrest warrants were served for drug violations, Immler said. The majority of them were served in the Heart of Boynton. There were a few served in other locations throughout the county.
Immler declined to say how many arrests have been made because the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
The cocaine ring was able to survive for so long because unlike a gang, it didn't go by a specific name and its members weren't distinguishable by any clothing, Immler said.
Police used SWAT team tactics and flash-bang grenades to raid houses and make arrests this morning.
450 officers raid Boynton neighborhood to break cocaine ring
By Jerome Burdi | Sun-Sentinel.com
1:40 PM EDT, September 9, 2008
BOYNTON BEACH - More than 400 law enforcement officers descended on a Boynton Beach neighborhood this morning to dismantle a crack cocaine distribution ring that's operated in the city for decades, Police Chief Matthew Immler said.
Local police, working with other police and federal agents from 11 different agencies, made dozens of arrests in the Heart of Boynton neighborhoods in the northeast side of the city, Immler said. About 450 officers were involved.
He called it the biggest drug sting in the history of Palm Beach County. During the year-and-a-half-long investigation, police and federal drug agents seized a pound of crack cocaine with a street value of $20,000, and a pound of powder cocaine worth about $16,000.
Immler credited his department's community policing efforts for gathering information over the past year and a half that led to the crackdown. He said the ring had been terrorizing residents.
"Although we have no illusions that we have rid the city of narcotics and its associated problems, we have made a significant leap forward in our crime fighting efforts by partnering with our citizens to improve the quality of life for those residing in the Heart of Boynton," Immler said.
More than eight dozen federal and state arrest warrants were served for drug violations, Immler said. The majority of them were served in the Heart of Boynton. There were a few served in other locations throughout the county.
Immler declined to say how many arrests have been made because the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
The cocaine ring was able to survive for so long because unlike a gang, it didn't go by a specific name and its members weren't distinguishable by any clothing, Immler said.
Police used SWAT team tactics and flash-bang grenades to raid houses and make arrests this morning.