Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Spring Cleaning

HONOLULU - The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31.

In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of:

• Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs; and
• Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics, including:
  o Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds,
  o Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine,
  o Over 550 pounds of marijuana,
  o Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds,
  o Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds,
  o More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds, and
  o More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly.

"When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again."

"This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them - with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history."

"Operation Spring Cleaning represents a significant step in Hawaii and across the country toward dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and the violent gangs that plague our communities," said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. "We will continue to hunt down and bring to justice those who victimize Hawaii with drug trafficking and the use of firearms to protect their illicit criminal operations."

"As reflected in the record number of arrests, seizures, and disruptions across the country, the message sent by Operation Spring Cleaning is deliberate and unequivocal-to the violent gangs operating in our communities: your time is up," said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. "Through enforcement operations and the removal of illegal firearms and lethal narcotics from our streets, we haven't just disrupted criminal networks-we have actively prevented violence and saved lives. The FBI, alongside our dedicated federal, state, and local partners, will continue to relentlessly track down those who flood our communities with poison and traffic in fear. We live here. We work here. This is our home, and we refuse to cede our neighborhoods to violent criminals."

FBI Honolulu, with assistance from federal and local law enforcement partners, conducted 1 largescale takedown and 2 additional operations during Operation Spring Cleaning, which led to the arrests and indictments of 11 individuals, including 10 alleged members of a drug trafficking organization. After executing 27 warrants, investigators seized approximately 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of other miscellaneous illegal drugs, 10 firearms, 11 firearm accessories, and $150,000 in U.S. currency.

Operation Spring Cleaning comes on the heels of another significant FBI Honolulu-led operation that led to the seizure of over 40 firearms - including an Uzi submachine gun, short-barreled rifles, and an AR-style pistol - and the arrest of two brothers.