Agencies conduct major drug sweep through Wichita Falls area

Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News
·2 min read
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More than 300 officers and agents from a Who's Who list of law enforcement agencies swept through Wichita Falls and the surrounding area early Friday, arresting 21 suspects on a variety of drug-related offenses.

Geoff McGuire, assistant special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI office, said most of the arrests occurred in Wichita Falls proper. They resulted from federal grand jury indictments issued earlier in May.

Special Agent Geoff McGuire of the Dallas FBI office said more than 300 officers and agents were involved in a Friday morning drug sweep in the Wichita Falls area.
Special Agent Geoff McGuire of the Dallas FBI office said more than 300 officers and agents were involved in a Friday morning drug sweep in the Wichita Falls area.

McGuire said the arrests were related to methamphetamine, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and powdered fentanyl. They also included conspiracy charges.

"Due to dangerous physical conditions or prior criminal histories of the subjects, a significant number of arrests were conducted by tactical teams," McGuire said.

That included multiple FBI SWAT teams, tactical teams from Wichita Falls police and the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Wichita County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Marshal's Service and a hostage rescue team from Quantico, Virginia.

He said the sweep was designed to keep the safety of the community in mind. The investigation began more than a year ago.

Wichita Falls police Chief Manuel Borrego said a major drug sweep through Wichita Falls early Friday succeeded in making neighborhoods safer.
Wichita Falls police Chief Manuel Borrego said a major drug sweep through Wichita Falls early Friday succeeded in making neighborhoods safer.

"The goal of this operation is to make a significant impact on drug-related crime in Wichita Falls and the surrounding area," McGuire said. "We have heard the concerns of residents and local officials, and we have brought in every resource to dismantle the criminal element in this operation."

McGuire said, "We're sending a loud and clear message to criminals that we will deploy our collective strength to ensure the safety and security of our neighborhoods and communities."

He said many of the suspects arrested Friday face "significant federal sentences."

"At the end of it, we had 21 dangerous, dangerous criminals off the street that were selling drugs and distributing drugs in our community," Wichita Falls police Chief Manuel Borrego said. "Our No. 1 goal is to create safe communities and safe neighborhoods for our families.

"I think we've done that today. It's just a great day for Wichita Falls."

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Agencies conduct major drug sweep through Wichita Falls area