242 nabbed in state dope sweep
242 nabbed in state dope sweep
UPSET arrests 33 in U.P.: Drugs, guns seized
By KAYLA GAHAGAN, DMG Writer
HOUGHTON — July 27 was a bad day to be a drug trafficker in Michigan.
In a one-day statewide sweep, the Michigan State Police executed 28 search warrants and arrested 242 people allegedly involved in drug crimes.
In the U.P., 33 people in five counties were arrested. The five counties included Baraga, Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft and Marquette.
“We were targeting individuals in all areas of the state,” said Inspector Daniel Bateman of the East Region Special Investigation Division out of Livonia. “We worked cooperatively with officers from all agencies.”
The “Operation Byrne Drugs,” which was named after New York City Police Department Officer Edward Byrne who was shot and killed by drug traffickers in 1988 while protecting a drug case witness, netted a combined total of 240 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of cocaine as well as heroin, ecstasy, Vicodin, OxyContin and methadone. Also, 19 guns, 12 vehicles, a motorcycle and $13,000 in cash were netted.
According to an MSP press release announcing the drug sweep, Byrne grant funding has allowed agencies to work together in drug task forces by offsetting the cost cities would have to pay to have their own drug teams.
In turn, the local officer is able to have an entire task force help solve a city or county drug problem without having to dedicate resources that would otherwise be used for patrols.
The MSP oversees 22 drug task forces across Michigan. The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET), under the direction of Det. Lt. Jeff Racine, did the investigations and arrests for the U.P.
Racine said the team, which purchases drugs undercover as part of investigations, has bought more drugs so far this year than in the last three years total.
“It’s gotten progressively worse,” he said.
UPSET works in counties that are able to pay the team $1 per capita. Racine said fewer and fewer counties are participating because they don’t have the money.
“We have 280,000 people in our 12 county area and we get $17,000 in contributions,” he said, adding that it is difficult to run operations on such few funds.
But he is proud of the work that is being done.
“Everybody went out and really did the best they could,” he said.
The work isn’t over, Bateman said.
“These are ongoing investigations,” he said.
Racine agreed.
“This is just a minor dent,” he said. “One case leads to another. It’s like climbing a food chain.”
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