On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) had arrested more than 3,400 violent fugitives as part of its Operation North Star FY 2024 (ONS FY24).
Operation North Star is a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative. The recent sweep resulted in the arrest of 216 fugitives wanted for murder, another 803 for assault, and 482 for weapons offenses. ONS FY 24 ran from May 10 to Sept. 13 and targeted fugitives and violent offenders in 10 metropolitan areas, focusing on those who used firearms while committing crimes. ONS FY 24 targeted offenders wanted on warrants for homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and firearms violations.
During the operation, investigators also seized 534 firearms, more than half a million in cash and nearly 500 kilograms of illegal narcotics, including more than 550,000 fentanyl pills. The operation occurred in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas; Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Phoenix; St. Louis (to include East St. Louis, Illinois); Birmingham, Alabama; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Dayton, Ohio.
“We first launched Operation North Star in 2022 to identify and apprehend the most dangerous fugitives and violent offenders,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. “From May to September of this year, the U.S. Marshals Service worked with state and local law enforcement partners in 10 metropolitan areas to arrest more than 3,400 fugitives and violent offenders and seize large quantities of firearms and fentanyl. I am deeply grateful to every Deputy U.S. Marshal, Task Force Officer, investigator, and police officer who carried out these arrests, and who did so at great risk to themselves.”
Since July 2022, USMS Operation North Star initiatives have seen investigators apprehend more than 10,200 wanted fugitives, and seize more than 1,425 weapons. Using data-driven, evidence-based approaches to removing criminals from communities, the investigators have been able to take 1,153 fugitives charged with homicide off the streets, officials said.