Organized Crime Section Shows Impressive Statistics
January 15, 2010
In April of 2009, the Mesa Police Department Organized Crime
Section (OCS) was revitalized in keeping with the department's
philosophy of targeting the most high profile criminals.
The mission of the OCS section is to dismantle organized crime
syndicates and drug trafficking organizations that raise the
level of violence, fraud, and corruption in our community.
Mission objectives:
- apprehension of the organization's leaders
- destruction of the financial base of the organization
- disruption of the drug supply or other criminal network
This mission is accomplished through sustained, coordinated
investigations, inter-agency cooperation and the use of
anti-racketeering (RICO) statutes.
In 2009, the OCS utilized contacts with DEA (Drug Enforcement
Administration), the HITDA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area) Task Force, other local agencies, and various members of
the Mesa Police Department. As a result of the revitalization
efforts, the following significant results have been
accomplished:
- 83 search warrants written and executed
- 75 felony arrests
- 50 firearms seized / 1 inert grenade
- 27 vehicles seized
- $828,353 in U.S. currency seized
- 645 pounds of Marijuana seized/purchased
- 1 gallon of GHB (date rape drug) seized
- 4 pounds of Cocaine purchased or seized
By continuing to target the top level offenders, the Mesa Police
Department and our partner agencies believe we are having the
most impact possibly in stopping drug and weapon activity in our
neighborhoods.