Federal Operation Targets South Florida Crime Ring, 31 Arrested in Gun and Drug Trafficking Cases
MIAMI — A two-month federal crackdown in South Florida has led to the arrests of 31 individuals and the seizure of dozens of illegal firearms and narcotics, U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne announced Wednesday during a press conference in Miami.
The effort, dubbed “Operation Showdown,” was launched in April by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to combat violent crime and the illegal trafficking of guns and drugs across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The multi-agency initiative deployed ATF personnel from across the country to work alongside federal and local law enforcement partners.
Authorities seized 80 firearms—including automatic and semiautomatic weapons, rifles, handguns, and machine gun conversion devices—along with 900 rounds of ammunition. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of approximately 10 kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, oxycodone, and other drugs.
“Drugs and guns continue to fuel the violence that threatens the safety of our community,” said U.S. Attorney O’Byrne. “By prosecuting violent offenders, in close collaboration with ATF and other law enforcement agencies, we send a clear and unified message that South Florida will not be defined by fear but by safety and justice.”
ATF acting Special Agent in Charge Gordon Mallory added that the operation demonstrated long-term enforcement results and emphasized the importance of targeting repeat offenders and illegal firearms traffickers to reduce violent crime.
The arrests were made possible with the support of the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and multiple local agencies, including the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Federal charges have been filed in 19 separate cases involving residents of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office are handling cases that include firearm possession, trafficking, and narcotics distribution. The cases fall under the umbrella of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and reducing violent crime through partnerships between federal task forces and local agencies.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
