Indiana police arrest 64 in massive drug sweep

Eight Hoosier police departments worked together for three days to arrest 64 drug offenders in north central Indiana.

The three-day effort, dubbed "Operation Blue Thunder," saw law enforcement officials use marked and unmarked police cars to conduct saturation patrols on U.S. 31 in Miami and Fulton Counties, according to the Indiana State Police. They were supported by drug detecting police dogs.

Officers from the State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, the Logansport Police Department, the Peru Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department and the Rochester Police Department participated in the sweep.

Officials said the goal was to catch people who use Indiana roads to transport and distribute drugs. They chose U.S. 31 because a large volume of motorists use the road to travel through the heart of northern Indiana.

Massive sweep is largest in IMPD's history

From June 22-24, officers made 64 criminal arrests on 134 different drug-related charges. Eighteen of the charges were classified as felonies, and officers issued 102 traffic citations and 268 written warnings.

During the three days, police found cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, edible marijuana food and prescription medication. All of the drugs and paraphernalia were found during traffic stops made by the various police departments.

“As the summer kicks off, we want to send a message that Indiana roads are closed to those who transport illegal drugs,” Indiana State Police Sgt. Daniel Prus said in a statement. “Indiana police officers will utilize all of the resources at their disposal to catch and arrest the few who transport illegal drugs.”

Operation Blue Thunder kicked off just days after the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department conducted its largest drug sweep in history. That sweep, called "Operation First Step," was carried out on June 18 by more than 150 local, state and federal law enforcement officers. The goal was to take violent offenders off the streets by making a series of "quality" arrests.

Twenty-six suspects were in custody by the end of the operation. IMPD officials said they seized four handguns, 13 grams of heroin, 8.5 grams of cocaine and marijuana, $3,500 in cash and three cars.

A marijuana growing operation in the basement of an east-side home was shuttered and an alcohol bootlegger was shut down.

Swarens: Behind the scenes in Indy’s fight against crime

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.