Undercover Operation Indicts 69 Suspects

More than 50 people are in custody charged with narcotic-related crime

San Diego Police Department arrested more than 50 people following a six-week undercover project titled “Operation May Day.”

During the operation, undercover detectives and officers purchased narcotics from local street dealers. After receiving the investigative reports from the police, the San Diego District Attorney's Office presented the cases to a grand jury, resulting in the indictment of 69 people.

Arrests began last week, and 52 people are currently in custody. Six individuals were arraigned this afternoon and police are actively seeking 17 people. Suspects are wanted for a variety of crimes, ranging from narcotics sales and possession of controlled substances to assisting the sales of narcotics.

“Many of the people arrested are career criminals and face lengthy prison terms,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said.

The SDPD Central Division Narcotics Team initiated the project after local residents expressed concern of a spike in street peddling. In order to address those concerns, “Operation May Day” combated street-level drug dealing in the East Village, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights and Downtown areas.

“We will never stop battling to keep drugs and violence out of all neighborhoods in central division and the city of San Diego,” Captain Mark Jones said.

Of the 69 suspects identified in "Operation May Day,” 32 are currently on parole and 15 are on active probation. Of the suspects, 48 were identified as suppliers of narcotics while thirty-one were identified as facilitators of a narcotics transaction.   

The operation netted 32 cases involving the sales of cocaine base, 12 cases for sales of methamphetamine, three cases of sales of heroin and one case each of sales of marijuana and prescription drugs.

Officials said they hope this operation will decrease crime in the city and serve as a reminder to dealers that narcotic sales will not be tolerated.

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