COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police completed its seventh Operation Unity crime blitz in an effort to combat crimes related to illegal drugs and firearms. Police made 35 arrests and seized hundreds of grams of drugs.
Police say the 20-hour crime blitz focused on the Hilltop and Franklinton areas and other neighborhoods in southwest Columbus. The operation took place From 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 23,
The crime blitz involved officers from the criminal intelligence, drug crimes and traffic operations units, major crimes detectives, SWAT and other local and statewide partners.
Law enforcement officers served search warrants and initiated targeted enforcement to address violent offenders, recover firearms and confiscate illegal narcotics.
The crime blitz resulted in the following:
- 17 felony arrests
- 35 total arrests
- 13 vehicles impounded
- 14 illegal guns recovered
- Six search warrants served
- 30 arrest warrants served
- 204 grams of cocaine seized
- 173 grams of fentanyl seized
- 39 grams of methamphetamine seized
- Seven grams of heroin seized
- 2,726 grams of marijuana seized
- $95,497 approximate street value of suspected drugs recovered
- 170 traffic stops with 174 citations issued and 34 driving without a license
The "Operation Unity" crackdown began in 2021 when multiple law enforcement agencies across Franklin County worked together with the goal of stopping as much crime as possible.
Each operation focused on a specific area in the Columbus area and Franklin County and a specific goal, ranging from arresting felons on warants and recovering illegal firearms and drugs.