NYPD arrests members of Bloods and Crips for collaborating in gun and drug sales in Brooklyn.

In a significant law enforcement operation targeting organized crime in Brooklyn, authorities dismantled a sophisticated drug and gun trafficking network allegedly operated by members of rival gangs, the Crips and the Bloods. Over the course of a year, investigators conducted an extensive undercover operation that culminated in the arrests of seven individuals and the seizure of over 20 firearms, according to a statement released by law enforcement officials on Friday.

The operation centered around the Crown Heights neighborhood, where members of the two gangs temporarily set aside their longstanding rivalries to engage in a lucrative alliance. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that the collaboration between the gangs was driven more by financial gain than by any sense of loyalty. The operation aimed to address growing concerns over rampant drug sales and gun violence in the vicinity of Sterling Place and Schenectady Avenue.

The yearlong undercover investigation incorporated a comprehensive range of tactics, including wiretaps, electronic surveillance, and the deployment of undercover officers who conducted purchases of both drugs and firearms. Police identified Dwayne Seales, a reputed 39-year-old member of the Crips, as the key figure behind the operation. Seales faces multiple charges including criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal sale of a firearm, reflecting the severity of the crimes committed.

As described by officials, Seales operated a street-level network that facilitated continuous drug deals while allegedly including at least one associate from the Bloods gang in the operations. The extent of this network was revealed through detailed surveillance that documented numerous transactions, which included sales of crack cocaine and firearms to undercover officers in various local establishments.

In one notable instance, Seales reportedly sold two semiautomatic pistols to an undercover officer in January, along with additional quantities of crack cocaine. Over the subsequent months, this illicit relationship continued, culminating in the sale of firearms on eight separate occasions, totaling 20 operable firearms, which varied from revolvers to rifles. Notably, eleven of these firearms were equipped with high-capacity magazines.

The combined illegal enterprises reportedly generated over ,000 in revenue for Seales and his accomplices. The dismantling of this criminal operation signals a concerted effort by law enforcement to enhance public safety and disrupt the nexus of violence and drug trafficking that has plagued certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Authorities urge community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that could signal a return to such illegal operations. The collaboration between the Crips and Bloods highlights the pressing need for continued law enforcement engagement in addressing gang-related activities in urban areas across the city.

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