Chicago Police and federal authorities arrested more than 100 people in a series of raids overnight targeting organized crime ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted “precision raids against gang affiliated organized crime” which began on Thursday and continued overnight, according to Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
Of the more than 100 people arrested, 60 are previously convicted felons, CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a press conference Friday. Ninety of those arrested are facing felony narcotics or weapon charges and six may be charged at the federal level.
Police seized 30 guns in the process, Johnson said. Two cars and $55,650 in cash were also confiscated, according to Guglielmi.
Earlier this week, Johnson announced that the CPD and other local and federal law enforcement agencies has put together “a comprehensive strategy” in an effort to curb shootings over the historically violent Memorial Day weekend. The raids, Johnson said, are “an important piece of our holiday weekend strategy.”
“Let me be clear: these missions are not over,” Johnson said. “CPD and our law enforcement partners will continue to carry out these raids throughout the weekend to ensure that we take these individuals off the streets before they can wreak havoc in our communities or become a victim.”
Officers also raided a child daycare facility suspected of being used as a stash house for guns. Four guns and ammunition were seized.
There were several children inside the home in the 1000 block of West Marquette, which, as officers described, was in “deplorable” condition, said CPD Organized Crime Bureau Chief Dana Alexander.
The building’s owner could not be reached for comment Friday.
Another raid took place at the Vite Mart corner grocery store on West 31st Street in Bridgeport.
The store sits just a block west of the CPD’s Deering District Station. Johnson said it “has hidden behind the veil of a legally operating establishment” and was “closed for promoting and contributing to illegal activity.”
A Sun-Times reporter visited the store after the press conference and a notice from the city Department of Buildings that deemed the business “Off Limits” was affixed to the front door.
The owner of Vite Mart said the closure was “related to the building” and “has nothing to do with illegal activities.”
The raids come as “well over” 1,000 extra officers are set to hit the streets to help stem the surge in violence that typically accompanies long holiday weekends in Chicago.
In a similar effort last Memorial Day weekend, Chicago Police also executed a series of raids aimed at curbing violence.
