240 People Busted, Heroin, 2 Alligators Seized In Essex County, New Jersey Drugs-Guns Sweep

Law enforcement rounded up 240 alleged violent fugitives, drugs, guns and even alligators in a New Jersey sweep during May, according to authorities.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced in a news release that it had arrested 240 people, including 46 gang members and sex offenders, as part of an effort to target violent offenders who were considered fugitives in the Newark area.

The sweep also collected six handguns, an assault rifle, body armor, heroin and other drugs and two baby alligators, according to the release.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said the success of the operation "shows how effective law enforcement can be when we focus our combined knowledge and resources on specific targets."

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told nj.com that the sweep has made the city's streets safer.

"Through our joint efforts, we have made arrests and seized weapons that will no longer pose a threat to public safety as well as removed drugs and the money obtained through illegal activities that fuel criminal operations," he told the publication.

A list of those arrested was not available at press time.