???A drug investigation that began over two years ago culminated with over 250 law enforcement officers raiding a house on the East Side of Buffalo on Thursday.
???The officers, who were from several state and federal departments, carried out multiple federal arrests and search warrants, hoping to detain suspects involved with drug trafficking and money laundering. It is not clear at this time how many arrests were made.
???"At approximately 7:30 a.m., a Buffalo FBI swat team and officers from the New York State Police, the Buffalo Police Department, and our Safe Streets Task Force were executing an arrest and search warrant in East Buffalo," said FBI Special Agent Laurie Bennett in a press conference. "The suspect was arrested without incident on drug-related charges."
???An agent from the FBI was wounded in an incident of friendly fire when trying to make an arrest at the Coit Street home.
???"One of our special agent swat team members was injured in an incident," Bennett said. "The agent was treated on the scene by an FBI swat medic who was... participating in the operation. The agent was transported to Erie County Medical Center by paramedics. Doctors report that his condition has been stabilized."
???In a press conference Thursday afternoon, the FBI announced the arrests helped with "the dismantlement of a violent major criminal drug enterprise."
???The group operated under the title "31," which refers to Public School 31, Harriet Ross Tubman Elementary School on Stanton Street. According to police, the gang members either attended or lived near the school. Over 30 suspects are expected to be arrested in connection with the gang.
???The gang has been brought up on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. The charges have a penalty of at least 10 years, to life imprisonment.
???In an interview with the Buffalo News, neighbors said that more than one gunshot was fired. Because the investigation is ongoing, the U.S. Attorney's Office could not comment on the reason why the shots were fired.
???"Because the situation is ongoing, I'm not able to provide any further information at this time," Bennett said.
Additional reporting by Senior News Editor Ren LaForme
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
