December 4th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) today announced another successful month for the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). During the month of November, law enforcement in counties across Maryland worked with other partners in order to seize narcotics, keep weapons out of the hands of violent repeat offenders, and secure convictions.

MCIN is a criminal justice strategy funded by the Hogan administration through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Announced by Governor Hogan in 2017, the MCIN strategy encourages local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to collaborate and share information to target, disrupt, and dismantle gangs as well as criminal organizations involved in drug, firearm, and human trafficking operations.

“The members of the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network understand that working together is vitally important to make Maryland’s communities safer,” said Glenn Fueston, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. "Collaboration between local, state, and federal partners is the reason Governor Larry Hogan’s initiative has disrupted and dismantled more than 100 gangs, 400 drug trafficking organizations, and dozens more criminal organizations involved in firearms and human trafficking.”

Annapolis MCIN

On November 22, the Annapolis Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, with assistance from the Annapolis Special Emergency Team, executed a search and seizure warrant on a home on Newtowne Drive while investigating illegal drug sales. Officers seized more than $600 in cash and $29,000 in illegal drugs, including:

•  69.9 grams of suspected crack cocaine
•  214.6 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl 
• 56 Suboxone strips 
• Drug paraphernalia

Officers arrested a 29-year-old man from Annapolis inside the home. He is being held without bond on possession with intent to distribute, and 14 other charges.

Anne Arundel County MCIN

  1. Anne Arundel County’s Gang and Firearms Investigation Unit, working with the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit executed a warrant at a home in Brooklyn Park. Inside of the home, police found:

• A loaded handgun
• Suspected marijuana 
• Drug paraphernalia 

Investigators say that the man arrested is prohibited from having a firearm. He is facing drug and weapons charges. A woman at the location was arrested for an active warrant. 

  2. November 8 and 9, Anne Arundel County Police conducted a series of traffic stops in Glen Burnie. Searches of vehicles involved in those traffic stops led to four arrests for firearm or drug violations. Officers recovered:

• 38 Oxycodone tablets
• More than 23 grams of suspected marijuna
• Two loaded handguns
• Drug paraphernalia

  3. November 12, Anne Arundel County Officers responded to a call at the Walgreens on Crain Highway South in Glen Burnie and found a suspect getting into a vehicle. Detectives stopped the vehicle a short distance away, seizing 144 oxycodone pills, and more than $4,000 in cash from the suspect. Detectives executed a search warrant for the suspect’s home, and recovered shotgun shells and other ammunition. The suspect is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He is charged with a number of drug and weapons violations.

  4. The Anne Arundel County Gang and Firearms Investigation Unit, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit, executed a search warrant at a home in Brooklyn. Police identified the suspect as an associate of the Black Guerrilla Family street gang. Inside the home, police found: 

• A loaded handgun, ammunition
• A small amount of suspected marijuana 
• Drug paraphernalia

The suspect is prohibited from possessing a firearm. A woman inside the home was arrested for an active warrant.

Cecil County MCIN

The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance operations and traffic stops in connection with reported criminal activity in Elkton and North East. Deputies made three drug arrests and three warrant arrests. Deputies seized:

• 25 bags of heroin/fentanyl
• Eight grams of crack cocaine
• Two grams of powder cocaine
• Drug paraphernalia

Cumberland MCIN

November 21, the Cumberland MCIN coalition initiated an operation that led to the seizure of:

• 25 grams of marijuana 
• 21 grams of crack cocaine 
• Heroin 
• Xanax 
• Three handguns 

A suspect who is a member of the Black Guerilla Family gang is being held without bond. Another person is charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Montgomery County MCIN

A 25-year-old man from Prince George’s County will spend 15 years in federal prison and another 5 years on supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in connection with drug trafficking. 

According to the plea, the suspect conspired with others to distribute crystal methamphetamine to individuals in and around Maryland from 2016 to November 2018. Prosecutors say the suspect fired a 9mm semi-automatic pistol at a home in Montgomery County on two occasions, and sent threatening messages over social media for a person’s failure to pay a drug debt. The pistol was recovered, along with 19 grams of crystal methamphetamine during the suspect’s arrest by Montgomery County Police in 2018. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Salisbury MCIN

The Maryland State Police Gang and Gun Enforcement Units collaborated with the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, Dorchester County Narcotics Task Force, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Wicomico County State’s Attorney Office, Salisbury Police Department, Delmar Police Department, and Fruitland Police Department on two operations targeting criminal activity and criminal organizations in Wicomico County. Authorities focused on controlled dangerous substances, firearms violations, fugitive apprehension, and crimes of violence. 

The first operation resulted in seven drug arrests, five warrant arrests, and three other criminal arrests. The second operation was focused on enforcement and information gathering in order to close existing investigations and develop leads for future investigations. During “Operation Suspended in Time”, the Salisbury Police Department received fewer calls for service related to crimes of violence within the Salisbury city limits, and no crimes of violence were observed during the operation in targeted high crime areas in Wicomico County.  The second operation yielded six warrant arrests.

All warrant services included Handle with Care Maryland notifications when a child was present, and any subject contacted during operations believed to have a substance abuse issue was provided with local resources addressing addiction.