Pennsylvania State Police Make Arrests, Capture Fugitives in Four-Day Crackdown

'Operation Maximum Effort' Also Results in Drug Seizures, DUI Arrests

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania State Police made 78 arrests, captured 19 fugitives, and seized vehicles, drugs and more than $675,000 in cash during a recent four-day enforcement blitz, Commissioner Frank Noonan announced today.

"Operation Maximum Effort succeeded in removing criminals, fugitives and drugs from our highways," Noonan said of the April 12-15 initiative. "At the same time, we took an aggressive and proactive approach to promoting highway safety."

Noonan said troopers seized $675,321 in cash, six vehicles, 253 grams of cocaine, 36,483 grams of marijuana, 9,000 grams of an illegal stimulant known as khat, four ecstasy pills, 83 grams of uncut heroin and 1,500 packets of heroin. Officials estimated the street value of the seized drugs in excess of $130,000.

The teams also seized 840 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.

In addition to the 78 criminal arrests, state police made 37 arrests for driving under the influence and issued 734 citations for speeding, 142 for seat belt violations, four for failure to use child safety seats, and 898 for other traffic law violations.

Noonan said seven teams of troopers were placed on major highways across the state as part of the operation. Each trooper received training through Operation SHIELD, which teaches officers how to identify potential signs of criminal activity after a vehicle has been stopped for any routine violation, such as speeding.  A state police canine handler and a drug-sniffing dog were assigned to each team.  Noonan said about 60 troopers participated in the effort.

For more information, visit www.psp.state.pa.us or call 717-783-5556.

Media contacts: Lt. Myra A. Taylor or Jack J. Lewis, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department