WEST VIRGINIA — The FBI has officially launched the second phase of its nationwide violent crime initiative known as Operation Summer Heat following a major multi-state takedown operation that resulted in dozens of arrests tied to an alleged drug trafficking organization operating across West Virginia and Maryland.
According to federal authorities, Operation Turf War was carried out on June 2 by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office’s Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force in coordination with West Virginia’s Homeland Security Task Force and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
The operation resulted in 32 arrests involving narcotics trafficking and weapons-related offenses following a lengthy investigation targeting an alleged criminal organization connected to drug distribution activity throughout the region.
Federal authorities stated the investigation originally began in August 2025 after intelligence and investigative efforts initiated by a task force officer assigned to the FBI from the Martinsburg Police Department. Investigators later expanded the case through coordinated surveillance activity, confidential informants, search warrants, intelligence operations, and interagency enforcement efforts spanning multiple jurisdictions.
According to federal authorities, law enforcement agencies executed six search warrants in a single day during a major phase of the investigation earlier this year.
During the operation, investigators reportedly seized approximately 13 kilograms of cocaine, nearly 110 pounds of marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, fentanyl, more than 20 firearms, ammunition, magazines, dozens of cellular devices, and roughly $273,035 in cash believed connected to narcotics trafficking operations.
Federal officials continue warning that narcotics trafficking organizations frequently overlap with violent criminal activity involving illegal firearms possession, gang operations, robbery, money laundering, organized distribution networks, and repeat violent offenses impacting local communities.
The operation also marked the official launch of Operation Summer Heat 2.0, a nationwide FBI initiative focused on aggressive violent crime enforcement operations expected to continue throughout the summer months across multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as a large-scale coordinated enforcement effort involving advanced investigative techniques, confidential sources, tactical deployments, and interagency collaboration targeting violent criminal activity and narcotics trafficking organizations.
Federal authorities stated the broader Operation Summer Heat initiative is expected to involve expanded violent crime suppression efforts, fugitive apprehensions, gang investigations, firearms enforcement activity, narcotics interdiction operations, and coordinated task force deployments throughout the country over the next several months.
Operation Turf War involved extensive coordination between multiple FBI field offices including Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washington. Authorities stated seven SWAT teams participated in the operation alongside more than 100 FBI personnel including Special Agents, intelligence analysts, tactical specialists, operational support staff, and forensic personnel.
Federal authorities also highlighted the deployment of the FBI Laboratory Division’s Rapid DNA system during the operation, marking the first large-scale use of the technology within the FBI Pittsburgh area of responsibility and only the third operational deployment in FBI history.
Rapid DNA technology allows investigators to collect DNA samples through mouth swabs from arrestees and rapidly generate DNA profiles within hours without requiring traditional laboratory processing timelines. Federal authorities stated the system can rapidly compare DNA profiles against unsolved crime databases contained within the Combined DNA Index System to identify potential links involving additional criminal investigations, outstanding warrants, or co-conspirators.
Federal officials continue emphasizing advanced forensic technologies, real-time intelligence analysis, mobile data exploitation, and rapid interagency information sharing as major force multipliers in modern violent crime investigations and organized criminal enforcement operations.
The operation included assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of West Virginia and the District of Maryland, Maryland State Police, West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Air National Guard, HIDTA task forces, sheriff’s offices, county prosecutors, and numerous municipal police departments throughout the region.
Federal authorities stated additional enforcement activity connected to Operation Summer Heat is expected to continue nationwide throughout the summer as violent crime suppression operations intensify across multiple FBI jurisdictions.
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