English: Columbus, Mississippi Oct. 2019 -A six-week joint federal, state, and local law enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 149 individuals in North Mississippi on a variety of criminal charges, including violent crimes, drug crimes and gang related activities. “Operation Triple Beam,” a U.S. Marshals led initiative brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce crime in the Golden Triangle area by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who have committed and are committing crimes in North Mississippi.

In addition to the arrests, Operation Triple Beam resulted in the seizure of approximately $65,820 worth of narcotics and narcotics related proceeds. Operation Triple Beam commenced in the Golden Triangle area on July 15, 2019, and concluded on August 30, 2019. As a part of the initiative, approximately 50 gang members were arrested or validated by law enforcement. In addition, 155 registered sex offenders living in Northeast Mississippi and the Golden Triangle area were checked for compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Compliance checks were also conducted on eight moderate and high-risk federal and state probationers. The U.S. Marshals Service’s national fugitive initiative known as Operation Triple Beam is deployed to communities to bring immediate relief from violent, gang-related crime. The collaborative law enforcement effort is focused on targeting and arresting violent fugitives wanted for high-profile crimes such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson committed by gang members and other high risk criminals.

Since 2010, the USMS has led more than 70 counter-gang operations which have resulted in more than 8,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 1,800 illegal firearms. For the last 10 years, the overarching goal of the USMS nationwide Operation Triple Beam and Washout initiative has been to bring relief to the residents of communities by strategically and actively pursuing gang members and criminals most responsible for the worst crime and violence in those communities. Operation Triple Beam has recently joined with the DOJ's Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Photo By: Shane McCoy / US Marshals