151 Rounded Up In ‘Granite Shield’ New Hampshire Anti-Drug Sweep

CONCORD, NH — Local, state, and federal law enforcement announced the results of a massive statewide drug sweep yesterday that led to more than 150 arrests and the seizure of more than 550 grams of heroin/fentanyl of the streets, according to police. On Feb. 15, 2018, law enforcement orgs performed a multi-jurisdictional “Granite Shield” operation in most of the state’s major cities – Berlin, Concord, Franklin, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Manchester, Nashua and Portsmouth – as well as the towns of Salem, Pelham, and other communities. New Hampshire State Police, the U.S. DEA, and sheriffs in Carroll, Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties also participated in the raids.

The results of Granite Shield including capturing close to 18,000 doses of heroin and fentanyl – about $22,000 in value – as well as 24 weapons and $34,000 in cash, as well as other drugs.

ALSO READ:

• Concord Drug Raids Lead To 7 Arrests; Guns Seized
• Operation Granite Shield Strikes Salem; 9 Arrested
• Granite Shield Drug Sweep Operation In Laconia Nets 4
• 13 Charged In Manchester Operation Granite Shield Drug Sweep
• 20 Arrested In Nashua Drug Sweep

"New Hampshire is safer today because of this months-long cooperative effort between state, local, and federal partners,” NHSP Col. Christopher Wagner said in a press statement. “I want to thank everyone who participated in this massive effort and thank Gov. Chris Sununu for providing the grant funds that make Granite Shield possible. I want anyone in New Hampshire who is engaging in the selling and trafficking of narcotics to know that you are not welcome in our State and you will be arrested."

NHSP are administrating the Granite Shield grants to local authorities and also offering support when requested. The support includes intelligence gathering by the Information and Analysis Center, interdiction by the Mobile Enforcement Team, the making of controlled purchases and provision of warrants by the Narcotics Investigations Unit, air support by the Special Enforcement Unit, and coordination through the State Emergency Operations Center and the State Joint Information Center by State Homeland Security and Emergency Management, according to State Police Capt. John Encarnacao, the commander of the NHSP Investigative Services Bureau.

“This collaborative operation was carried out through careful coordination between 88 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” Encarnacao said. “The objective of the operation was to utilize all available state, local and federal resources to disrupt opioid and other drug trafficking activities in the state of New Hampshire.”

The Granite Shield grants amount to more than $1.2 million for 2018. The sweep on Thursday lasted 20 hours.

Images via NHSP.