Operation Bullseye Targets Illegal Firearms
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – More than two dozen guns have been removed from the streets of Broward County in a month-long operation that also ended with the arrests of 25 people.
Operation Bullseye, conducted by the Broward Sheriff's Office Gun Squad, took direct aim at firearms violators.
Of the seized firearms, seven were stolen, 19 were recovered from convicted felons, one was recovered from a suspect pending a domestic violence charge and one was recovered from a drug search warrant, according to BSO.
"Whenever there's a weapon involved with a crime it amplifies the danger," said Sgt. Ted Tiranu of the BSO. "Some of the suspects that we got these guns from are dangerous people."
Those arrested face a variety of charges including possession of firearm by a convicted felon, dealing in stolen property, violation of a restraining order and drug possession.
Eleven fugitives wanted on active warrants for violent gun crimes were apprehended with the help of BSO's Fugitive Unit.
"When it comes to gun violence, BSO is saying 'enough is enough,'" Sheriff Al Lamberti said. "We will do everything we can to keep illegal guns off the street and out of the hands of convicted felons. I am proud of the hard work of everyone involved in this successful operation."
Sheriff Lamberti created the Gun Squad in 2009 to reduce the number of illegally-used guns on the streets of Broward County. It is composed of four detectives, one sergeant and one crime analyst.
This year, it has seized 228 firearms and made 191 arrests, not including the guns confiscated or people arrested during Operation Bullseye.
BSO said the investigators work with just one simple goal, "to make it safe for residents of Broward Couny and keeping these weapons out of the hands of people who are not supposed to have them," said Sgt. Tiranu.
Crime Stoppers of Broward County will pay $100 for the recovery of an illegal weapon and up to $1000 for the arrest of a person for possession of the illegal gun in a public place.
To report information, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
