Law enforcement officials targeted Norwich-area drug traffickers Thursday in a series of raids that led to more than 20 arrests and a cache of drugs, guns and cash. Dubbed “Operation Jersey Barrier,” Norwich Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro said he expected the joint effort to have an “immediate impact,” on the drug trade in Norwich — particularly heroin and crack cocaine sales. DEA Special Agent Brian R. Crowell said the loose-knit group of dealers now behind bars was selling between 4,000 and 8,000 bags of heroin daily. “Drugs drive a lot of our crimes,” Fusaro said. “The results of today’s operation ... demonstrates both the need and success of interagency cooperation.” City detectives started laying the groundwork for the joint task force eight months ago, acting on residents’ tips and their own observations. Norwich Police Lt. Stephany “Steve” Bakoulis said it was always a source of frustration for officers trying to assure residents they were doing their job without revealing details of the ongoing investigations. In the pre-dawn hours Thursday, city police met with 60 heavily armed law enforcement officials to receive a briefing and pass out a handful of search and arrest warrants signed by the state’s attorney’s office. The group included police from New London, Groton Town, Groton City, the state police Narcotics Task Force and agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo ...
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Law enforcement officials targeted Norwich-area drug traffickers Thursday in a series of raids that led to more than 20 arrests and a cache of drugs, guns and cash. Dubbed “Operation Jersey Barrier,” Norwich Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro said he expected the joint effort to have an “immediate impact,” on the drug trade in Norwich — particularly heroin and crack cocaine sales. DEA Special Agent Brian R. Crowell said the loose-knit group of dealers now behind bars was selling between 4,000 and 8,000 bags of heroin daily. “Drugs drive a lot of our crimes,” Fusaro said. “The results of today’s operation ... demonstrates both the need and success of interagency cooperation.” City detectives started laying the groundwork for the joint task force eight months ago, acting on residents’ tips and their own observations. Norwich Police Lt. Stephany “Steve” Bakoulis said it was always a source of frustration for officers trying to assure residents they were doing their job without revealing details of the ongoing investigations. In the pre-dawn hours Thursday, city police met with 60 heavily armed law enforcement officials to receive a briefing and pass out a handful of search and arrest warrants signed by the state’s attorney’s office. The group included police from New London, Groton Town, Groton City, the state police Narcotics Task Force and agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo ...