Milwaukee, WI – Federal authorities have announced the arrest of 22 people linked to an international drug cartel following a multi-year investigation into narcotics trafficking in Milwaukee and Racine. The large-scale operation, dubbed “Operation Chalkline,” involved multiple agencies and resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, and vehicles, according to the FBI’s Milwaukee field office.
The Investigation: Operation Chalkline Targets Cartel Network
The FBI’s Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force led the multi-year investigation that uncovered a sophisticated network distributing fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
According to the FBI’s news release on October 22, Operation Chalkline culminated in the arrest of 22 suspects and the recovery of a large quantity of illegal drugs and weapons. The operation’s success marks one of the most significant drug enforcement actions in the region in recent years.
Authorities say the investigation began several years ago after law enforcement traced drug trafficking activities back to cartel operations with international ties.
Seized Drugs and Weapons: A Major Strike Against Cartel Activity
During the course of Operation Chalkline, investigators seized:
- Over 260 grams of fentanyl
- 4 kilograms of cocaine
- 1.5 pounds of methamphetamines
- 6 pounds of marijuana
- 23 firearms
- Three vehicles
Officials emphasized that the removal of such a large cache of drugs and weapons from circulation represents a major disruption to cartel-linked trafficking efforts in the area…