Police stage major drug raid, target 36 people in Springfield

State police and federal agents were seeking the arrest of 36 people in the Springfield area as part of a large drug arrest sweep that got underway early this morning.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/viewart/20130619/NEWS07/306190013/Police-stage-major-drug-raid-target-36-people-in-Springfield

Police stage major drug raid, target 36 people in Springfield Jun. 19, 2013 3:14 PM Burlington Free Press Photo: Toby Talbot Written by Staff, wire report SPRINGFIELD — State police and federal agents were seeking the arrest of 36 people in the Springfield area as part of a large drug arrest sweep that got underway early this morning. The raid, nicknamed “Operation Precision Valley” is being carried out by about 100 law enforcement officers, the Vermont State Police said in a statement. The raid was ongoing as of 11 a.m. and not all of those targeted had yet been apprehended, according to Vermont State Police spokeswoman Stephanie Desaro. “Some have been arrested and some have already been brought to court,” Desaro said. She declined to say whether those targeted were members of a single drug ring, or were part of different drug trafficking entities. The Vermont State Police, along with representatives of the Attorney General’s Office and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s office are scheduled to convene a news conference on the drug raid at 2 p.m. at the Springfield Fire Department. Desaro said the individuals being sought by police were involved in the trafficking of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs. She said those arrested will face charges in state, not federal court. "The Vermont State Police are pleased to be coordinating with multiple state, local, county, and federal agencies to combat the growing drug problem in Vermont," said Colonel Tom L'Esperance, director of the Vermont State Police.