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Pre-Dawn Round-Up Lands Firepower And Felons

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) -- Federal agents fanned out across Miami Gardens Wednesday morning to arrest 97 people for guns and drug trafficking.

The bust was called Operation Smoking Gun III.

Before sunrise, the federal agents were going after the suspects named in state and federal arrest warrants. Those same agents also served 16 search warrants.

The year long operation, which concluded with Wednesday's arrests, took 248 illegal firearms off the street.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said, "As a result of this long-term concerted effort, 97 dangerous individuals, the vast majority of whom are previously convicted felons, their guns and their drugs, have been removed from the streets."

Police also seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroine, MDMA, marijuana, and prescription medications.

Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Miami-Dade  State Attorney, added, "Guns plus drugs always equal violence and death.  That's why such multi-agency law enforcement efforts are important.  Every illegal gun dealer and drug dealer we get off the streets of Miami Gardens means less violence for the city's citizens.  Every member of our law enforcement community is committed to that essential goal."

Matthew Boyd, Chief of the Miami Gardens Police Department, said, "The Miami Gardens Police Department has been extremely successful in reducing crime over the last five years.  This success continues to create a safer environment for our residents and is a direct result of the cooperation and partnerships at the State and Federal level as evidenced in this multi-agency operation."

Operation Smoking Gun III is not over. Federal agents said there are still open arrest warrants for people not brought into custody Wednesday morning.

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