On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the Cartel Gang Narcotics & Laundering Task Force (CGNL) a multi-agency task force led by the Cleveland Division of Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted an operation involving multiple search and arrest warrants being served simultaneously in Cleveland’s Second District, Third District, Fifth District, Highland Heights and Westlake, OH.
This six-month investigation led to this seizure of approximately 65 kilograms (143 pounds) of suspected fentanyl pills and powder, 3 pistols, 2 rifles, a pill manufacturing press machine and additional evidence related to narcotics trafficking were seized. Two subjects, ages 40 and 43 were apprehended on federal arrest warrants. Final evidence totals are pending laboratory analysis, but investigators estimate nearly 600,000 dangerous counterfeit oxycodone Blue-M30 fentanyl pills were recovered, with an estimated street value amount of 9.5 million dollars. The
CGNL Task Force worked in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office and partner agencies from the Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)- Strike Force throughout this investigation. This search and arrest warrant operation was made possible with the assistance and partnership of the Cleveland Police SWAT Unit, the FBI SWAT Team, The Southwest Enforcement Bureau (SEB) SWAT Team, the Cleveland Police NICE Unit, US Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and ATF Violent Gun Crime Task Force.
The Cartel Gang Narcotics & Laundering Task Force (CGNL) is a long-standing multiagency major crimes task force composed of over 38 investigators and analysts from multiple federal, state and local agencies. The CGNL Task Force is led in partnership by the Cleveland Division of Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
CGNL is composed of investigators, analysts and assisting personnel from the following agencies: Cleveland Division of Police, FBI, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Ohio HIDTA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio BCI, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, U.S. Border Patrol, Ottawa County Drug Task Force, Brooklyn; Bedford; GCRTA, North Royalton and Shaker Heights Police Departments.
