37 people have been charged, 60 weapons taken off the streets, several kilos of drugs confiscated and a millions seized in Athens as part of Operation Tourniquet. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department, along with state and federal agencies, held a press conference this afternoon. Chief Cleveland Spruill said it part of an effort combat an escalation in violent crime.
“The purpose of today’s press conference is to announce the culmination of Operation Tourniquet, a seven-month long, multi-agency, investigation into high level members of the 1831 Piru criminal street gang,” according to Chief Spruill.
Spruill said the increase in gun violence and gun-related offenses is nationwide, but Operation Tourniquet addressed the local increase head on.
“Operation Tourniquet shows our community that we will not tolerate acts of violence, illegal possession of firearms, narcotics violations and other criminal street gang activity in our communities.”
13 people were arrested in Athens Thursday, for a total of 37 individuals so far, but lawmakers say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. Among the items seized during the seven-month long investigation, a land mine, a machine gun, heroine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Chief Spruill said this is just one of multiple efforts targeting offenders.