Chicago police net 70 arrests in drug, gang busts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police shut down several businesses and arrested dozen of people in a sting to shut down drug operations in the city.

CPD executed two vice and narcotics busts over the past five days, resulting in the arrest of more than 70 people and the closure of two businesses they say contribute to criminal activity.

The initiative was designed to target narcotics activity and individuals that support gang-related crime in Chicago.

Last Friday and stretching into Tuesday, officers and detectives conducted an anti-violence operation on offenders in the Harrison and Austin districts. The mission aimed to quell recent violence in these districts, as well as an increase in the sale and abuse of fentanyl-laced heroin.

"We're not getting the low-level guys or the guys who are occasionally using or buying. We're getting the guys that are hardcore street gang members: 46 convicted felons, almost all street gang members," Chief Anthony Riccio said.

As a result of the operation, 54 people were arrested on felony narcotics charges, and seven guns were recovered.

On Monday, officers also conducted a raid in the Lincoln District designed to strike at gang operations. Sixteen suspects were arrested - eight of them members of documented gangs, police said.

Ten administrative notice of violation citations were issued to a business located in the 5000-block of North Sheridan, and the building was ordered closed by the city's building commissioner for serious code violations. Twelve building code violations were also issued to buildings located in the 1100-block of West Argyle.