Sarasota Police officers arrested 43 people during the operation in the city aimed at street-level drug dealers. This is the highest number of arrests they have ever made during a street-level operation, officers said.
Undercover detectives made drug buys from street dealers during this Operation Safe Neighborhood which lasted 6 months. The purpose of the operation was to target the dealers within Sarasota city limits.
As a result, 43 people were arrested on charges of sale of rock cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, church or park, sale of heroin, sale of a controlled substance and sale of spice/designer drugs. Sale of rock cocaine close to schools, churches and parks carries a 3-year mandatory sentence.
Sarasota officers said the arrested suspects have a combined total of 316 felony convictions.
“This operation is one of many ways the Sarasota Police Department is combating drug sales and activity in our community,” Lt. James Rieser, Criminal Investigation Division said. “The Sarasota Police Department is committed to making the residents and visitors of the City of Sarasota feel safe through our drug enforcement efforts. We will continue to investigate complaints and create proactive operations to reduce the flow of illegal narcotics into our community.”
SPD operations target drug-related crimes include Street Reverse Operations, Operation SRQ Cartel and Operation SRQ Cartel II.
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