Months-long operation leads to 56 federal charges, seizure of hundreds of kilos of drugs

CHARLOTTE — A three-month, multi-jurisdiction operation led to 56 federal charges, the seizure of 560 pounds (254 kilograms) of drugs, including more than 48.5 pounds (22 kilograms) of fentanyl, the recovery of 110 illegal firearms and the apprehension of 157 fugitives on state and federal charges throughout the region, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced on Monday.

Operation Spring Cleaning targeted violent offenders, drug traffickers, armed felons, and fugitives. These suspects were identified as responsible for spreading deadly drugs, driving gun violence and increasing crime across district and state lines, officials said.

“Our goal here was before those summer months come, kids get out of school, our young people get recruited to a life of crime -- before that comes, we want to get the worst of the worst off the streets,” Ferguson said.

Federal defendants charged in connection with the operation face charges for drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, armed robbery and other violent offenses.

“Two milligrams of fentanyl, which is just a fraction of an ounce, is a fatal dose. You’re talking about removing 11 million fatal doses from the street,” Ferguson said.

The last part of the operation was a raid last week at the Garden Inn off Reagan Drive when feds and CMPD moved in and arrested 10 people who police said used the hotel as a farmers’ market for drugs.

More than a dozen agencies were involved in Operation Spring Cleaning. The goals include dismantling drug networks, reducing illegal guns and gun trafficking in the region, and combating gun-induced violence.

“We will continue to use every authority and resource available to keep dangerous criminal cartels and violent organizations out of our communities,” said Eric Conaway, assistant special agent in charge for the DEA in North Carolina.

The investigation targeted everything from street-level drug dealers to crimes when Mexican cartels brought stashes through North Carolina.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

©2026 Cox Media Group